Gen H Conveyancing Panel Information

We can't comment specifically on Gen H. Many major lenders are now introducing ‘file auditing’ as standard practice in relation to completed matters. This raises questions of confidentiality in relation to the buyer client and the purpose to which the results of such audits will be put. The starting point is to remember that the file does not belong to your firm, it belongs to the ‘client’. But, of course, we will normally have two clients – the buyer and the lender - and you will owe a duty of confidentiality to each. So basically, you have to separate the file and just send the lender the parts solely relating to themselves. But, of course, as this will basically be correspondence with the lender, mortgage instructions etc.

Check with your COLP but a firm should not send the complete conveyancing file without the buyer client’s express consent – and if she is in arrears with the lender she is hardly likely to agree. However, if the lender can establish a prima facie case of fraud, then you may be under an obligation to disclose the whole file.

The emerging convention is that lenders are including an authority to disclose in loan application forms to counter this problem. Mortgage Express v Sawali, [2010] EWHC 3054 (Ch) indicates that such provisions are valid. Please click here for more information about that case.

There are many reports available, five of which are as follows:

• Average time frame to send deeds to the lender (calculated from completion date or title registration)
• Buy to Let transactions
• Average mortgage advance
• Analysis as to the nature of clients (e.g.existing/new/seen in person)
• Current and historic missed priority dates

The majority of lenders do not operate a specific buy to let conveyancing panel but we are hearing about a few that do. We do not know what the position is with Gen H as at todays date. If you're about to receive instructions from a client on a buy to let purchase with a mortgage from Gen H we suggest that you call Gen H to check the position.

10 potential conveyancing clients search for a conveyancing practitioner on the Gen H panel on a monthly basis in Hendon. The lenderpanel directory service team who will show you how your firm can be listed by those searching for conveyancing in Hendon.

You should supply details of the date of removal, information on the reason for removal, date of appeal and any reason given for reinstatement. This should not adversely impact your application but gives the CQS team viability as to what has gone on.

You should contact Gen H to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook has a specific section for lenders to reveal who to contact to obtain standard documents. Gen H in their Part 2’s state: Please remember to disclose your Gen H solicitors panel reference.