Hodge Conveyancing Panel Information

The CML is an association rather than a regulator and therefore cannot investigate complaints against lenders. You can of course contact Lexsure to see if we can assist.

The Council of Mortgage Lender requirements of Hodge are silent on this. Most lenders address the question of file retention via their Terms of panel appointment where they generally provide that for evidential purposes, the firm must keep the file for at least of 6 years from the date of the mortgage. Data imagining is normally suitable compliance with this requirement. Many lenders point out in that it is the practice of some fraudsters to demand the conveyancing file on completion in order to destroy evidence that may later be used against them. It is therefore important to retain these documents to protect Hodge’s interest. To be absolutely sure of Hodge requirements in this regard please check the Terms and Conditions of Hodge’s conveyancing panel membership.

One might ordinarily expect Hodge via their Part 2 conditions to address this but the Handbook is silent on deadlines to send deeds. You need to look at the Terms of Hodge’s Conveyancing Panel Appointment that you entered into. For a number of banks these Terms have a clause such as: ‘To keep us informed of the reasons for any delay in your being able to send the title deeds and documents we require to us within 3 months of completion or evidence of proof of registration within that period. (We will send reminders if the deeds have not been received but will not acknowledge receipt of deeds’ It is important to keep Hodge informed. Law firms can often compound their problems by not communicating with the lender when there is a delay or problem.

In this situation please explain on the form what action you have taken to discover the reasons behind cancellation of your Hodge panel status. In particular please provide details if you have received communications from the lender. E.G. before cessation of your panel membership did you receive any letters or calls from the lender informing you as to why they reached this decision?

You would be advised to contact Hodge to obtain standard documents. The The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook incorporates an explicit inquiry for banks to enumerate who to contact to obtain standard documents. Hodge in their Part 2’s state: Please remember to quote the firm’s Hodge solicitors panel reference.