Halifax Conveyancing Panel Information

The information on this page is designed to keep solicitors and licensed conveyancers abreast of latest requirements changes by Halifax and to assist in remaining on the Halifax Conveyancing Panel.

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Halifax Solicitor Panel: Recently Asked Questions

I am hearing that agents are using online checkers to see if a firm is on a lender panel. Why?

Many estate agents are suffering if their clients start out on the buying process using a solicitor who is not on the panel with the purchaser’s chosen lender. Many conveyancing firms are only discovering when they begin working on a case that they are no longer able to work with that lender. Given the inevitable resultant delays in the transaction the chances of an abortive deal increases dramatically. in the circumstances there is understandable anguish on the part of the estate agent as a result of the lost time should the client have to change solicitors .

Are the Council of Licensed Conveyancers taking any action to ensure that licensed conveyancers remain on lender conveyancing panels?

As is the case with the Law Society the Council of Licensed Conveyancers has entered discussions with lenders and their representative bodies to see whether and how the risks that lenders wish to mitigate could be addressed through the regulatory framework rather than via ad hoc arrangements that can differ from lender to lender. It is likely that that the CLC have been in touch with lenders such as Halifax since 2008 which is when lenders started being more restrictive.

I understand that Halifax could request or audit my files as I am on the Halifax conveyancing panel. How should I respond in the event of such a demand?

We can't comment specifically on Halifax. 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 borrower 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 he is in dispute 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.

I recently attended a seminar arranged via my PI broker where it was mentioned that solicitors are being sued for non-compliance with Part 2 requirements . I am on the Halifax conveyancing panel can you tell me how Part 2 changes took place by Halifax during 2013?

During 2013, 65 sections of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook P2 were changed by Halifax. Some changes are more important than others but as a firm on the Halifax conveyancing panel you are of course obliged to comply with individual lender requirements, as set out in Part II of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. Locktons have recently pointed out in an article that non-compliance with Part 2 requirements account for a number of high value claims, and it is therefore important to be aware of any particularly onerous terms that an individual lender may impose.

Remember: CML requirements are not guidelines; they are the lender client’s instructions.

My post-completion clerk has left my firm on short notice. I urgently need to prioritise making sure that charges are registered. That said, how quickly do I need to send deeds to Halifax once the charge is registered before my firm runs the risk of being suspended off the conveyancing panel for Halifax?

Halifax will likely expect the deeds to be sent to them within 10 days of you receiving the TID (unless their specific P2 requirements specifically state that they you are not to send them anything). Most COTs refer to complying with the Certificate of Title referred to in IB (3.7) of the SRA Code of Conduct 2011, published by the Law Society which states that you ‘will despatch to you such deeds and documents relating to the Property as you require with a list of them in the form prescribed by you within ten working days of receipt by us of the title information document from the Land Registry’ As to whether the lender will suspend your panel status this very much varies according to the lender’s own internal policies The more cases you have the more risk you face. Some lenders may take action if there records show that the deeds are outstanding for more than 3 matters. The fact is that if you keep within the time frame then you will have more chance of remaining on the Halifax conveyancing panel.

We had our Halifax panel membership suspended but we have not yet been given a reason as to why. I am completing a CQS renewal questionnaire what information do I need to put forward?

In this situation please clarify on the application what steps you have taken to find out the reasons behind cancellation of your Halifax panel membership. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before revocation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender informing you as to why they reached this decision?

I am on the Halifax conveyancing panel and all set to complete a remortgage within the next week. My file does not contain a Mortgage Deed for the client to execute. Who do I contact at Halifax to obtain duplicate documents?

You should get in touch with Halifax to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook contains a specific section for banks to establish who to contact to obtain standard documents. Halifax in their Part 2’s state:

It is likely that you will need to quote your Halifax conveyancing panel number.

Find a Lawyer on the Halifax Conveyancing Panel

Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Halifax

This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.

Year	Days*
2026	20.7
2025	[no data]
2024	[no data]
2023	[no data]
2022	[no data]
2021	[no data]

* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor

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