We're in Chesterfield, First timers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Coventry BS , and our lawyer is on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no property lawyer should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.
We are getting a further advance on our mortgage from Aldermore as we wish to carry out improvements to our house in Chesterfield. Do we need to appoint a bricks and mortar Chesterfield solicitor on the Aldermore conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?
Aldermore do not ordinarily require firms on their conveyancing panel to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Aldermore conveyancing panel.
I had an offer accepted on a property in Chesterfield on 11/9/2025, valuation was booked five days later, all came back fine. Solicitor retained, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Nationwide and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. Are Nationwide entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Nationwide to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
My sealed bid on a detached house in Chesterfield has been accepted, but there is a chain. The owners have offered on a property, however it’s not yet agreed to, and have viewings of other properties in the pipeline. I have selected a nearby conveyancing solicitor in Chesterfield. What should be my next step? At what stage do I apply for the mortgage with Skipton?
It is normal to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to incur expenses prematurely (mortgage application is in the region of one thousand pounds, then valuation, Chesterfield conveyancing search costs, etc). The first thing to do is check that your lawyer is on the Skipton conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much dictated by the uniqueness of your transaction, motivation for the property and on the state of the market. In a rising market some home buyers would apply for the mortgage with Skipton and arrange for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their conveyancing practitioner to press on with searches.
Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in Chesterfield. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.
Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Chesterfield
-
Please supply evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision.
I opted to have a survey carried out on a property in Chesterfield before retaining solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor advised that some lenders will not grant a loan on such a property.
It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Birmingham Midshires. Should you wish to telephone us we can investigate further via the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Chesterfield. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.
My cousin has urged me to use his conveyancers in Chesterfield. Should I use them?
There are no two ways about it the ideal way to find a conveyancing practitioner is to get feedback from friends or family who have previously instructed the firm that you are considering.
Last April I purchased a leasehold property in Chesterfield. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?
In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
Chesterfield Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should ask Prior to buying
-
The best form of lease arrangement is where the freehold reversion is owned by the leaseholders. In this situation the lessees enjoy control and even though a managing agent is often retained where it is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. How much is the ground rent and service charge? It would be wise to discover as much as you can concerning the company managing the block as they can either make living at the property much easier or a lot more difficult. Being a leasehold owner you are often in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to day to day issues such as the cleanliness of the communal areas. Don't be afraid to ask prospective neighbours what they think of them. Finally, be sure you understand the dates that you are obliged pay the maintenance charge to the appropriate party and precisely what you get for your money.