Unfortunately I am unable to travel far from Crystal Palace. Is there a reason why all Crystal Palace conveyancers aren't automatically on all lender panels?
Pre- 2008 most mortgage companies exhibited an attitude to risk which is different from today. The Financial Services Authority in 2010 carried out a thematic review into mortgage fraud which concluded: know the solicitors on your panel. Accordingly, mortgage companies have since looked to extract more data from law firms about their processes and the individuals who work for them and set certain criteria such as completing a minimum volume of transactions. Many law practices have found themselves excluded from lender panels even though they had 100% healthy disciplinary record, no complaints and zero claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Many firms found it impossible meet the minimum amount of transactions the lenders set.
I have 70 years unexpired on my lease and need a lease extension for my flat in Crystal Palace. Conveyancing solicitors on the Platform panel can deal with such extensions right?
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 20/12/2025 the requirements read as follows :
I have justfound out that Arc property Solicitors have been shut down. They conducted my conveyancing in Crystal Palace for a purchase of a leasehold flat 10 months ago. How can I check that the property is registered correctly in the name of the former proprietor?
The easiest way to check if the property is in your name, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Crystal Palace conveyancing specialists.
I'm buying a new build house in Crystal Palace benefiting from help to buy. The developers refused to budge the price so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The house builders rep advised me not disclose to my conveyancer about this extras as it may jeopardize my loan with Coventry Building Society. Is this normal?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
I am looking into buying my first house which is in Crystal Palace and I am already nervous. I couldn't find anything specific about Crystal Palace. Conveyancing will be needed in due course but do you know about the Crystal Palace area? or perhaps some other tips you can share?
Rather than looking online forget looking online you should go and have a look at Crystal Palace. In the meantime here are some basic statistics that we found
My solicitors in Crystal Palace have advised me that no longer have my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with the mortgage company. Is it case that being on the lender conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a number of years?
It very much depends from lender to lender but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the lender Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting the bank directly.