HSBC UK Bank Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online 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 software is the only way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their requirements, with notifications given on HSBC UK Bank’s changes. Notwithstanding that using the software is not a prerequisite for HSBC UK Bank , 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, safeguard your panel standing.

The software creates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, leads to reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by HSBC UK Bank

Mortgage companies often 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 58 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 47.1 days. In total, 7% 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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HSBC Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers from members of the public

Is the fact that my conveyancer is not on the HSBC Conveyancing panel that there is a problem with the standard of his work?
That would more than likely be a wrong assumption to make. There are all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The most common reasons for removal are: (1) lack of transactions (2) the lawyer is a sole practitioner (3) as part of the HSBC panel reduction (4) regulatory contact by SRA (5) accidental removal. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for HSBC.
Our conveyancer has uncovered a legal deficiency with the lease for the flat we are purchasing. The seller’s lawyers have put forward title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our solicitor says that as he is on the HSBC conveyancing panel he must be satisfied that the lender is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or HSBC?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and HSBC are the client. A precondition to being on the HSBC approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on HSBC). The CML Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that HSBC can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the HSBC conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the HSBC approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the HSBC conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the HSBC solicitor panel.
We're in Birmingham, First time buyers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is HSBC , but our lawyer is on the HSBC conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the HSBC conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
What are the common reasons for a lender such as HSBC to withdraw a mortgage offer?
Lenders such as HSBC can withdraw their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. should HSBC withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to the reasons why. There are various possible reasons but here are a number of examples:
  • HSBC may amend or withdraw an offer if the HSBC conveyancing panel solicitor is unable to confirm compliance with any of the conditions of the mortgage offer or if any of the terms of the mortgage offer cannot be satisfied
  • If the borrower informs HSBC of a change in security address
  • Amendments if purchase price adjusted and the loan to value limits exceeded by this. Please note that HSBC conveyancing panel solicitors would be obliged to notify HSBC of a change in the price of the property.
  • Where the sale is not at arms length for value to unconnected persons
  • 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 was told three weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed to by HSBC. Is it usual for HSBC to only issue the offer once my solicitor is approved on their conveyancing panel?
A lender would not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for HSBC to deal with your lawyers application to be on the HSBC conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitors will be accepted.
Sometime soon me and my wife are buying a penthouse in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon are preferred to beretained. My motheradvised that we double-check that the property lawyer in Hendon is on the HSBC panel. Is this right?
Not all Hendon conveyancing practices are on the HSBC conveyancing panel. 5 people a month use our search tool to search for a Hendon conveyancing practitioner on the on the HSBC approved list of lawyers.