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My IFA has says he needs my solicitor’s panel reference for the Habito conveyancing panel. What is the best way to discover this. I have tried my local Habito office but they have not responded to me.
You are best placed to get this information from your conveyancing lawyer. A law firm is likely to keep a file or database of lender panel information which would include, if applicable their conveyancing panel details for Habito.
Much to my surprise my solicitor has requested from me personal identification documents asserting that this forms part of his obligations as a solicitor on the Habito Conveyancing panel. Can this be correct?
Due to Money Laundering Regulations your conveyancing lawyer is duty bound to confirm positively your identification when entering into a business relationship with you. It is a criminal offense if your lawyer not do this. If you do not provide ID early in the transaction the solicitor must refuse to act for you. It’s unlikely a lawyer will turn you away if you come to the first meeting without relevant ID but you will have to produce it at some point so you might as well bring it with you to the initial meeting so the lawyer can tick the ID verification box and start sorting out the conveyancing straight away. If you are getting a mortgage with Habito your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy Habito
I require the services of a Habito panel solicitor in Stirling. Can you assist?
It is not clear why you need a Habito panel solicitor but in any event, if you can not find one on our search tool you will need to speak directly to Habito to find out which solicitors in Habito are on their panel. If you do find such a firm not listed please direct them to our site to list. After all the cost is only one £1 a month
Can you clarify what the consequences are if my lawyer’s firm is expelled from the Habito Conveyancing panel before completion?
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 for a fee.
Do conveyancing solicitors on the Habito conveyancing panel work on a no move no charge 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 service
Do the majority of banks 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 requirements.
Completion of my remortgage has taken place with a loan from Habito. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about Habito. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the Habito branches or the Customer Services Department at Habito head office. Ordinarily complaints to Habito are resolved very quickly. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is resolved you can write to the
Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.
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Transfer of Equity for HabitoPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors