HSBC to allow all Law Society accredited solicitors on conveyancing panel

16 May 2012 | By Natalie Thomas

Previously only firms on HSBC’s managed panel of conveyancers, around 43, were able to act for both the borrower and the lender, with all other firms able to act for the borrower only.

The new arrangement will be introduced in August 2012.

All CQS-accredited sole practitioners will be able to handle all cases with mortgage values up to £150,000. 

The Law Society has invited HSBC to assist it in further developing the CQS assessment scheme so that it becomes the automatic requirement for a firm to join a mortgage lenders conveyancing panel.

HSBC has suggested the Law Society consider inviting other mortgage lenders to assist it with this.

Martijn van der Heijden, head of lending at HSBC, says: “We introduced our panel in January to provide additional protection for both our customers and the bank. 

“We  listened to feedback from customers and solicitors,  and through working with the Law Society can now agree to more solicitors  acting for us while also managing our risks and maintaining the unique benefits of using one of our panel solicitors.”

Desmond Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society, says: “With this move HSBC is demonstrating its commitment to putting customers first as well as its confidence in the CQS scheme.

“The bank has been constructive in working with the Law Society, in designing this solution. As well as giving its customers a much wider choice of solicitor that can also act for HSBC, it has  aligned itself further with the CQS and the high standards the scheme represents.

“The Law Society and its members have campaigned for this change in the interests of solicitors’ home-buying  clients  since HSBC introduced its original  panel. HSBC’s willingness to engage with us has helped secure a good outcome for their mortgage customers, our CQS members and the house buying public.”

Under the new system, HSBC mortgage customers will have three options when appointing a solicitor or conveyancer.

Option one  - the  managed  panel - will be using one of the current managed panel firms, conveyancers who can act for the bank and the borrower and who have  signed up to offering  fixed fees and other guarantees including no sale, no fee.

Option  two - will be to use CQS members who are not on the managed panel. CQS members  will  not  be  obligated to commit to the fees set by the bank, or purchase a technology link to the bank’s panel manager

Option three - The third option remains available for borrowers who wish to choose another firm of solicitors  or conveyancers not in the two options above. In this instance,  as was previously the case, the borrower will pay £160+VAT for a panel firm to complete the legal work required by HSBC.

If you enjoyed this article, sign up here to receive daily email updates from Mortgage Strategy and Follow @mortgagestrat

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name

I have read and agree to the terms and conditions