HSBC Solicitor Panel Sample Enquires to our Call Center from members of the public
My Solicitor is not listed on the HSBC Approved Panel. Is it possible for me to retain my family solicitor even though they are excluded from the HSBC panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?
You will need to have a conveyancer complete the legal work required when you take out a HSBC mortgage to buy your property. They’ll carry out all the necessary legal checks on the property, make sure that you’re properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the necessary mortgage documentation is in place. You can instruct a conveyancing firm of your choice. However, if the firm selected is not a member of the HSBC conveyancing panel additional costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by HSBC. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so if your conveyancer has not previously applied for membership they can do so.
can you help? My solicitor is assuring me that she is duty-bound to order a Local Authority search because the firm are on the HSBC solicitor panel. The searches cost a lot of money. Can this be avoided?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with HSBC 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 HSBC’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated HSBC. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
I see that you have a search directory listing solicitors on the HSBC conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for my conveyancing?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the HSBC conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint.
The solicitors that just started acting on my purchase in Manchester has suddenly closed. I only went with them because I had to have a firm on the HSBC conveyancing panel and my family lawyer was not. I gave them a cheque for £150 in advance. What are my options?
Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then let them know immediately so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the HSBC conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors may be able to assist
My brother and I have agreed a price on a flat I spoke to a lawyer recommended by my uncle and he recommended retaining a solicitor approved by HSBC. The estate agent recommended two local firms so I asked HSBC if the 2 suggested solicitors are approved, which they are not. HSBC pointed out that either firm can fill out the appropriate forms to become approved. Do I (1) save myself the aggravation and use one of HSBC 's conveyancing panel solicitors (2) Use the local solicitor and accept there may be delays etc as they go through the approval process.
Enquire of HSBC for conveyancing panel firms in your area. Most banks have lawyers on their panel throughout the UK. You can also use our search tool at the top of this page to search for a lawyer on the HSBC conveyancing panel based on location. If you particularly like the sound of one of the local lawyers that you have spoken to ask them if they would go onto HSBC conveyancing panel as it may only take about 2-3 weeks. As long as they meet HSBC’s requirements it can be a very simple job for the solicitor. Other stuff will be going on in parallel (as you are at an early stage) so it may not delay matters.
On the whole I have been dissatisfied with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a HSBC conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
There is little point in complaining directly to HSBC. All solicitors 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.
My offer on house has been accepted, but there is a chain. The vendors have offered on somewhere, but not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other properties in the pipeline. My conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. What do I do now? When should I get the mortgage app going 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.