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How does my firm apply to be on the Halifax Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Halifax Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Halifax Conveyancing Panel
Halifax Conveyancing Panel : Questions and Answers
I have been advised by my broker that I have to pay Halifax fees should I instruct my family lawyer. How good are the Halifax conveyancing panel solicitors? I dont care which law firm I use as long as they're good and not exorbitantly priced. Are there any Halifax conveyancers you'd recommend?
Halifax’s conveyancing panel is pretty large so your best bet is just to check with the firms you are getting quotes from whether they are on it. You can search by postcode on the search tool on this site to find solicitors that Halifax will allow to act for them.
can you help? My conveyancer is informing me me that he has to order a Local Authority search as the firm are on the Halifax solicitor panel. Do I not have a choice here?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with Halifax 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 Halifax’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook requirements last updated Halifax. even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out a local authority search.
Do all the licensed conveyancers and solicitor practices listed on your directory have online case tracking as I was under the impression that this was a precondition of being on the Halifax solicitor panel?
The Council of Mortgage Lenders or BSA do not require online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
What happens if my lawyer’s firm is removed from the Halifax Conveyancing panel in advance of the moving date as agreed at exchange of contracts?
The first thing to point out is that, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have ti instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by the regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Halifax do lawyers have to be pay a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
I had instructed online solicitors located in Birmingham who are on the Halifax solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £195 for the legal aspects of the Halifax mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Halifax?
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 Halifax but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Halifax will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
How can we tell if a solicitor on the Halifax panel is any good?
obtaining recommendations is a good starting point. Before you go ahead check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advocate that you speak with the solicitor handling your transaction
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