I am about to put a bid on a leasehold apartment in Crowle. The estate agents say that it is standard for flats in Crowle to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am expecting a mortgage with Platform. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 72 years unexpired.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 29/8/2026 the requirements read as follows :
I am buying a property in Crowle. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Nationwide have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As your lender is Nationwide your lawyer must follow the conveyancing requirements set out in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Nationwide. The CML Handbook contains minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancers are required to report to Nationwide where a lease does not comply with these specifications. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not restricted to Crowle.
The formalities of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Crowle. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
Almost all lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Department at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are resolved effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.
After what feels like an age I have had an offer on an apartment in Crowle agreed to, but there is a chain. The sellers have offered on a property, but it’s not yet agreed to, and have viewings of other apartments in the pipeline. I have selected a local conveyancing solicitor in Crowle. What do I do now? When should I get the mortgage application with Barclays started?
It is understandable to have anxieties where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket prematurely (mortgage application is approx one thousand pounds, then survey, Crowle conveyancing search fees, etc). The first thing to do is check that your lawyer is on the Barclays conveyancing panel. As to the next steps this very much dictated by the specifics of your case, attraction to the property and on the state of the market. During a rising market some buyers will apply for a home loan with Barclays and pay for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they ask their property lawyer to press on with the conveyancing in Crowle.
I require expedited conveyancing in Crowle as I have pressure to exchange contracts in less than 2 weeks. A home loan is not required. Is it possible to escape the need for conveyancing searches to save fees and time?
If.Given you are not getting a mortgage you are at free not to do searches although no lawyer would suggest that you don't. With lots of history conveyancing in Crowle the following are instances of issues that can appear and therefore impact the marketability of the property: Refused Planning Applications, Outstanding Fees, Overdue Grants, Road Schemes,...
I was recommended by numerous estate agents in Crowle to choose a property lawyer using your seach tool. Is there a financial incentive for Estate Agents to market your lawyers ahead of a competitor’s?
We don’t give any referral fee for directing people in our direction. We thought it would be too underhand a fee as members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.
My husband and I are FTB’s - agreed a price, but the agent has warned us that the seller will only move forward if we appoint their preferred solicitors as they want a ‘quick sale’. Our preferred option is to instruct a local conveyancer accustomed to conveyancing in Crowle
We suspect that the seller is unaware of this ultimatum. Should the owner desire ‘a quick sale', alienating a genuine buyer is not the way to achieve this. Contact the vendors directly and make the point that (a)you are serious buyers (b)you are excited to move forward, with mortgage lined up © you have nothing to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you intend to use your own,trusted Crowle conveyancing solicitors - as opposed tothe ones that will give their negotiator at the agency a kickback or achieve conveyancing targets set by senior management.
What do I do if I am not happy with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted our conveyancing in Crowle?
Occasionally the level of service you receive is not as you expect, and is is a fact of life that occasionally things do go wrong. That being said there is recourse where you were not happy with your conveyancing in Crowle. This varies from trying to resolve matters directly with them, through to reporting a lawyer to their regulator. If things still aren’t resolved you may consider getting in touch with the Legal Ombudsman.