FAQs : The Handelsbanken Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
My Solicitor has never been on on the Handelsbanken Conveyancing Panel. Is it possible for me to retain my family solicitor even though they are not on the Handelsbanken panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?
The most common options here are as follows:
- Carry on with your preferred lawyers but Handelsbanken will need to instruct a lawyer on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel. This will result in additional cost and potential delay.
- Get a new solicitor to act in the purchase, obviously checking they are on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel.
- Convince your lawyer to do everything within their powers to join the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel
Much to my surprise my conveyancer is asking me for identification documents stating that this is part of his retainer as a solicitor on the Handelsbanken Conveyancing panel. Am I being spun a yarn?
Due to Money Laundering Regulations your conveyancing lawyer is duty bound to confirm positively your identification when entering into a business relationship with you. It is a criminal offense if your lawyer not do this. If you do not provide ID early in the transaction the solicitor must refuse to act for you. It’s unlikely a lawyer will turn you away if you come to the first meeting without relevant ID but you will have to produce it at some point so you might as well bring it with you to the initial meeting so the lawyer can tick the ID verification box and start sorting out the conveyancing straight away. If you are getting a mortgage with Handelsbanken your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy Handelsbanken
Do all the licensed conveyancers and solicitor practices listed on your search have online case tracking as I understood that this was a condition of being on the Handelsbanken solicitor panel?
The Council of Mortgage Lenders or BSA do not require online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
I am buying a new build flat and getting a mortgage with Handelsbanken. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel in your location.
Do most lenders operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel requirements are different to Handelsbanken’s conveyancing panel requirements.
On the whole I have been dissatisfied with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Handelsbanken conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
There is little point in complaining directly to Handelsbanken. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
My ex -wife’s name is on the Handelsbanken mortgage of my property but not on the land registry. The apartment was transferred to me on our divorce many years ago by way of a sealed court order. Does my ex still have a say on the sale even though the land registry showing the property in my name alone? Will I be required to take her name of the Handelsbanken mortgage in order to sell?
As regards the Handelsbanken mortgage, it is unusual that your ex-wife’s name remains on the mortgage but not on the title. It is conceivable that this is an oversight on the part of your conveyancers to ensure that her name was removed or even an administrative error on the part of Handelsbanken in failing to update their data. In any event, it should cause difficulty providing her name no longer appears on the Land Registry title and you have a court order ordering that the property is transferred to you.