HSBC UK Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is web-based pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers. COMPLETIONmonitor is a unique risk mitigation tool.

This system facilitates the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can stay fully compliant with their instructions, with automatic updates on HSBC UK Bank’s changes. While utilising the software is not a condition for being on the HSBC UK Bank panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with HSBC UK Bank’s Handbook requirements is a helpful support to your panel application and, just as importantly, protect your panel status.

COMPLETIONmonitor generates real-time alerts, automatically produces regulatory 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 HSBC UK Bank

Banks and building societies frequently vary their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from HSBC UK Bank 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, HSBC UK Bank has made 44 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 62.0 days. In total, 6% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for HSBC UK Bank 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
5.8.1 10/05/2019 CML
Freehold and leasehold owner of multiple flats
HSBC Bank plc panel lawyers clarification as to whether they accept security which comprises a building converted into not more than four flats where the borrower occupies one of those flats and the borrower or another flat owner also owns the freehold of the building and the other flats are subject to long leases?
10.2b 04/12/2018 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
What is the minimum number of days notice HSBC Bank plc require ahead of sending the mortgage advance?
6.6.1 19/11/2018 CML
Buy to Let Conveyancing
Contact details at HSBC Bank plc for approved lawyers were the subject property is let/to be let and to check HSBC Bank plc lend on buy-to-let.
6.6.4 19/11/2018 CML
Houses in Multipe Occupation
HSBC Bank plc approved conveyancer requirements where the property comes within the definition of a house in multiple occupation
1.11a 30/10/2018 CML
General Mortgage Instructions
Contact details at HSBC Bank plc for approved lawyers to obtain mortgage documentation
14.2.2 30/10/2018 CML
Post Completion Conveyancing
Which documents should approved lawyersfor HSBC Bank plc send the title deeds and documents following completion?
5.5.3c 22/10/2018 CML
Building Regulation Consent
HSBC Bank plc approved lawyers clarification as to whether they need to send an original/copy of any building regulation consents
6.7.1 02/08/2018 CML
New Build Conveyancing
HSBC Bank plc approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
6.7.1 10/07/2018 CML
New Build Conveyancing
HSBC Bank plc approved conveyancer requirements for New Build Conveyancing : Home Warranty Schemes
10.7 02/07/2018 CML
Mortgage Advance and Certificate of Title
In the event of a delayed completion, when and how is advance to be returned to HSBC Bank plc by the approved lawyer?

Last update 20/05/2019

HSBC Conveyancing Panel Recently Asked Questions from members of the public

My wife and I are novices when it comes to buying a property. Within the 48 hours our lawyer has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with a view to exchanging next week. HSBC have this afternoon contacted us to advise us that there is now an issue as our lawyer is not on their conveyancing panel. Please explain?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is usual for the purchaser's solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender.

In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Accreditation Scheme. Your property lawyers should contact HSBC and see if they can apply for membership of the HSBC conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable HSBC will instruct their own solicitors to act. You don't have to instruct a firm on the HSBC conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred lawyers, in which case it will likely add costs, and it will likely delay the transaction as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.

We are getting closer to an exchange and my parents having sent the 10% deposit to my lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to disclose this to my lender HSBC. I am advised that, being on the HSBC conveyancing panel and acting on their behalf he must inform HSBC if the balance of the mortgage advance is not just from me. I disclosed to the bank about my parent’s contribution when I applied for the home loan so is it really necessary for this now to be an issue?
Your lawyer is obliged to check with HSBC to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to HSBC if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
Your search tool is useful but there are many lawyers listed near Hackney on the HSBC conveyancing panel. Can you recommend a specific firm on the HSBC approved panel?
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 am considering refinancing my house does my lawyer need to be on the HSBC Conveyancing panel?
There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor but HSBC will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is much more potential for delays and confusion with two solicitors involved, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.
Is the case that all CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors on the HSBC conveyancing panel?
Some major lenders now use CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS membership however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.
My fiance and I are in the process of looking at flats and am about to put in an offer. Is it best to have a conveyancer on ‘stand by’? I intend to finance via a mortgage with HSBC
You should start obtaining conveyancing quotes from solicitors ASAP. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on the the estate agent. As you are getting a mortgage with HSBC , ask your prospective lawyers check they are on the HSBC conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
My offer on house has been accepted, the seller does however have a dependent purchase. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties booked. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What do I do now? At what point should I appy for the mortgage with HSBC?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey/valuation, conveyancing search costs, etc). First you should check that your solicitor is on the HSBC conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot mortgage some buyers would pally for the mortgage with HSBC and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.