Handelsbanken Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers. It is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system facilitates the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with notifications given on Handelsbanken’s changes. Even though utilising this technology is not a condition for acceptance on the Handelsbanken panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Handelsbanken’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, safeguard your firm’s panel status.

The system creates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will increase your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for many firms, leads to a PII saving.

Find a Law Firm approved by Handelsbanken

Mortgage companies frequently change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Handelsbanken are not guidelines, they are instructions from a client. As with many clients, instructions can change - and they do change, over time:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Handelsbanken has made 33 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 82.7 days. In total, 10% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Handelsbanken have been changed since 15/12/2008.

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FAQs : The Handelsbanken Solicitor Panel from members of the public

I am expecting a offer of a mortgage from Handelsbanken. my intention is to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer. Does the Handelsbanken Conveyancing panel allow for conveyancers regulated by the CLC
Handelsbanken’s approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
Much to my surprise my property lawyer is asking me for proof of ID documents asserting that this forms part of his retainer as a solicitor on the Handelsbanken Solicitor panel. Can you confirm whether this is the case?
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
Your search tool is useful but there are many lawyers listed near Hackney on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel. It would be a lot more helpful if you could recommend a specific firm on the conveyancing panel for Handelsbanken ?
We do not recommend specific firms as the right firm for you depends on where your priorities lie. For example you may require a local firm with local knowledge or you might be looking for the low cost conveyancing. Before you appoint your lawyer we advise you to speak to two or three of the firms listed to gain comfort as to which one is right for you..
I was expecting to move into my first house yesterday. My lawyer’s firm is on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel but has changed address in the past couple of months and had not informed Handelsbanken of their new address. Handelsbanken is now refusing to release my funds until such time as their systems are up to date with the correct details.
This is as unusual as it is unlucky. The majority of lender Terms of Conveyancing Panel Appointment specifically oblige the solicitor to inform the lender of an address change. Your solicitor needs to treat this with the utmost urgency. Do speak with or register your concern with the senior partner (assuming he or she is not your direct lawyer). Most lenders would be reasonable in this situation and expedite the resolution of this issue. It may be prudent to enlist the help of your local Handelsbanken branch or your mortgage broker to see if they can assist.
Do the majority of banks 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 criteria.
I am about to exchange contracts on a purchase with a mortgage from Handelsbanken. The report from my solicitor mentions that Handelsbanken could withdraw their offer before completion. Is this right?
Lenders such as Handelsbanken can revoke their mortgage offer although this is unusual. If Handelsbanken withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are various possible reasons but here are a few examples:
  • If the financial circumstances of the borrower have changed to the detriment and the Handelsbanken has been notified
  • Amendments if purchase price adjusted and the loan to value limits exceeded by this. Please note that Handelsbanken conveyancing panel solicitors would be obliged to notify Handelsbanken of a change in the price of the property.
  • Following advice from the valuer on their lender panel or If the lender has doubts about the effectiveness of the valuation as a result of subsequent events or information received post valuation but pre completion
  • Where the Lender’s right to possession is fettered in some way
  • If the lender reasonably believe that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is insolvent or is about to become insolvent or has or will have a petition presented or if any one or all enter into any arrangement with their creditors generally or if any one or all should suffer a material change in their financial circumstances
I currently have a mortgage with with Handelsbanken. Conveyancing has been completed months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Handelsbanken?
Your original mortgage agreement with Handelsbanken will provide that you need their approval prior to letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Handelsbanken’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Handelsbanken directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Handelsbanken conveyancing panel solicitor.