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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
Examples of recent questions relating to the Habito Conveyancing Panel
My mortgage broker has asked me for my law firm’s panel reference for the Habito conveyancing panel. What is the best way to find this out. I have e-mailed my local Habito branch but they don't know it.
You are best placed to get this information from your conveyancing lawyer. They should have a central record lender panel numbers including the Habito panel reference.
Please assist. For no fault of my lawyer but, the conveyancing for my house purchase has been going on for months. The Local Authority Search from Habito was dated random date and we have agreed a date for me to move into the property on Tues etc. My lawyer informs me that as she is on the Habito conveyancing panel she needs to redo the searches as they are no longer acceptable to the lender.
One of the many conditions to being on the Habito approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 obligations (last updated for this lender on Habito)which states that a local authority search be not more than 6 months old. You should nevertheless ask your lawyer to check whether something called ‘search validation’ indemnity insurance is acceptable to Habito.
I have been Googling for online conveyancing estimates. Can I be assured that all the firms that are identified on your directory are on the Habito conveyancing panel?
The law firms on our directory have assured us via an online form that they are on the Habito panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the Habito panel. To date we have not been informed by either a lender or a member of the public that the data about a specific firm being on the Habito conveyancing panel is not accurate.
I am purchasing a right to buy flat and getting a mortgage with Habito. Can I do my own conveyancing?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing you will have to appoint a solicitor on the Habito conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to made in you doing to conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on the Habito conveyancing panel in your location.
Do the majority of lenders operate their own panel of solicitors?
Many lenders do operate a restricted conveyancing panel but a lot of lenders allow any solicitors to join their panel so long as they meet their criteria. Each lender sets their own criteria. For example the Habito conveyancing panel requirements are different to Habito’s conveyancing panel criteria.
Is it common for Habito to withdraw a mortgage offer and what would be the reasoning?
Lenders such as Habito can withdraw their mortgage offer although this rarely happens. If Habito withdraw their offer they may or may not inform you or the lawyer as to their reasoning. There are many potential reasons but here are a number of examples:
- Habito may amend or withdraw an offer if the Habito 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 Habito of a change in security address
- Amendments if purchase price adjusted and the loan to value limits exceeded by this. Please note that Habito conveyancing panel solicitors would be obliged to notify Habito of a change in the price of the property.
- Situations where information provided by the borrower that enabled the lender to make a lending decision is fraudulent, incorrect or misleading.
- If the lender reasonably suspects that the applicant, borrower, mortgagor or guarantor is involved in any criminal or fraudulent activity, including trading in illegal drugs or other substances, theft, robbery, deception or other serious offences, or if the applicant borrower, mortgagor or guarantor has a conviction for any serious criminal offence, including theft, deception, fraud, robbery or trade in illegal drugs or other substances;
I currently have a mortgage with with Habito. Conveyancing was finalised some time ago. Should I wish to rent out my property and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Habito?
You must advise Habito before letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Habito’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Habito directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Habito conveyancing panel solicitor.
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Transfer of Equity for HabitoPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors