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 such as AmTrust. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk management tool.

This system optimises the way you can demonstrate to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on Handelsbanken’s changes. Even though utilising the tool is not a condition for acceptance on the Handelsbanken panel, demonstrating you can stay up to date with Handelsbanken’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, just as importantly, protect your firm’s panel standing.

The system generates real-time alerts, automatically produces compliance and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. It is also simply to use, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Handelsbanken

Banks and building societies often vary 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, frequently:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Handelsbanken has made 14 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 195.0 days. In total, 3% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Handelsbanken have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
16.3.7b 31/01/2019 CML
Transfer of Equity
Handelsbanken guidance to conveyancing panel lawyers for form of attestation clause for Transfer of Equity
6.7.1 13/06/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Handelsbanken panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.2 13/06/2017 CML
New Build Conveyancing
Handelsbanken panel conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : whether home warranty documentation should be sent to Handelsbanken
14.1.4 08/07/2016 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Does the Handelsbanken require their conveyancing panel to make a form CH2 application to the Land Registry ?
7.3 02/03/2016 CML
Occupiers at the Property
Handelsbanken panel conveyancer requirements for adult occupiers : Do Handelsbanken require a consent to mortgage from all occupants aged 17 or over
6.14.1 30/11/2015 CML
Building Insurance
Handelsbanken panel lawyers additional requirements concerning building insurance

Last update 17/07/2019

Handelsbanken Conveyancing Panel Recently Asked Questions from members of the public

My mortgage broker has has requested my lawyer’ panel reference for the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel. How do I find this out. I have contacted my local Handelsbanken branch but they cant find it on their system.
You are best placed to get this information from your conveyancing lawyer. They should have a central record lender panel numbers including the Handelsbanken panel reference.
Please help. My lawyer is assuring me that she is duty-bound to apply for a Local Authority search because the firm are on the Handelsbanken approved lawyer panel. Is this really necessary?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with Handelsbanken your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of Handelsbanken’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Handelsbanken. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
Do all the firms listed on your directory have online case tracking as I was under the impression that this was a precondition of being on the Handelsbanken solicitor panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel in order to deal with paying off my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Handelsbanken. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event if you are getting a mortgage with Handelsbanken you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel.
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?
Complaining to Handelsbanken about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this 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 addressed 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.

It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension . I have called into my local branch Handelsbanken on numerous occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they would lend. My solicitor - who is on the Handelsbanken conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told not they would not lend in accordance with their CML Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I simply dont know who is right
As long as the conveyancer is on the Handelsbanken panel she or he must comply with the CML Handbook requirements for Handelsbanken. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that Handelsbanken will go ahead your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask Handelsbanken to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the remaining number of years left on the lease.