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approved by Habito
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Habito list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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How does my firm apply to be on the Habito Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Habito Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Habito Conveyancing Panel
FAQs for the Habito Conveyancing Panel
My wife and I are FTBs. Within the 48 hours our solicitor has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with a view to exchanging next week. Habito have this morning contacted us to advise us that there is now an issue as our solicitor is not on their approved list of lawyers. Is this a problem?
If you are buying a property with the assistance 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 Quality Scheme. Your property lawyers should contact Habito and see if they can apply for membership of the Habito conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable Habito will instruct their own solicitors to act. You don't have to instruct a firm on the Habito conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own solicitors, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it will likely delay the transaction as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.
Please help. My lawyer is assuring me that he has to conduct a Local Authority search as the firm are on the Habito approved lawyer panel. Is my lawyer correct?
You have limited options available to you. As you are taking a mortgage with Habito 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 Habito’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Habito. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
I am looking to buy a flat and require a conveyancing solicitor in Liverpool who is on the Habito approved. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a firm?
Our service is a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Habito . We don’t recommend any particular firm.
I am considering applying for a Habito mortgage for purchase of a new build (under development) with 60% LTV. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Habito?
In theory, you could use a solicitor that is not on Habito conveyancing panel, but Habito would require one of their panel solicitors to be instructed to act in their interests, and you'd have to pay for this - so most people instruct a panel solicitor. It's also easier, as otherwise you'd have to deal with two solicitors for the same conveyancing matter.
Is it the case that all conveyancing lawyers on the Habito conveyancing panel work on a no sale no fee basis?
On the whole there are no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their package
I had instructed online conveyancers based in Bristol who are on the Habito solicitor panel. They are now charging me a separate fee of £150 for dealing with the Habito mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by Habito?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Habito but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Habito will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but plenty of firms include it on their overall fee.
I am about to exchange contracts on a purchase with a mortgage from Habito. The report from my solicitor mentions that Habito could withdraw their offer before completion. Is this right?
Banks and Building Societies such as Habito can withdraw their mortgage offer although this is unusual. If Habito withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to the reasons why. There are many potential reasons but here are 5 examples:
- A cashback to the buyer, or | part of the price includes a non-cash incentive to the buyer (eg paid stamp duty land tax),or | any indirect incentive (cash or non cash) or rental guarantee, of which the lender was previously unaware
- Where the lender has to take account a recent change in taxation
- Where the sale is not at arms length for value to unconnected persons
- Where the lender is on notice of a restriction or a right of pre-emption which is not at market value
- Where the Lender’s right to possession is fettered in some way
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Transfer of Equity for HabitoPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors