I am progressing with the sale of my ground floor flat in De Beauvoir Town and the EA has just text me to warn that the buyers are switching conveyancer. The reason given is that the lender will only work with solicitors on their approved list. On what basis would a major lender only deal with specific solicitors rather the firm that they want to select to handle their conveyancing in De Beauvoir Town ?
UK lenders have always had an approved set of law firms they are content to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Santander, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for over 25 years.
Banks justify this action to a rise in fraud as the reason for the cull – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to keep an eye on. Banks tend not to disclose how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. The purchasers are unlikely to have any impact on this.
Completed the sale of my flat in De Beauvoir Town last August but the buyer keeps SMS messaging me to say their conveyancer is waiting to hear from myconveyancer. What are the post completion sale formalities following completion?
After completion of your disposal your lawyer is obliged to forward the transfer documentation and all of the paperwork to the purchaser's conveyancer. Where relevant, your solicitor must also evidence that the home loan has been paid off to the purchasers lawyers. There is unlikely to be post completion procedures peculiar conveyancing in De Beauvoir Town.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in De Beauvoir Town. My lender is Accord Mortgages
Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 8/4/2026, the requirements read as follows :
I'm purchasing a new build house in De Beauvoir Town with a loan from Nottingham Building Society. The builders refused to reduce the price so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The sale representative suggested that I not disclose to my lawyer about this extras as it would put at risk my loan with the bank. Should I keep quiet?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder 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.
What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a De Beauvoir Town conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a De Beauvoir Town conveyancing practice) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you talk with several firms including non De Beauvoir Town conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions could be useful:
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Can they put you in touch with clients in De Beauvoir Town who can give a testimonial? How many lease extensions has the firm completed in De Beauvoir Town in the last 12 months?
I have given up trying to purchase the freehold in De Beauvoir Town. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?
in cases where there is a absentee landlord or if there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to make a decision on the amount due.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a De Beauvoir Town residence is 5C Stoke Newington Road in April 2010. the Tribunal therefore concludes that the premium to be paid for the extended lease is £700.00 This case affected 1 flat. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 80.5 years.
I am due to consider quotes for conveyancing in De Beauvoir Town from various solicitor and choose one. Should I get them to sit tight until I I have my bid accepted on a apartment.
You should wait to ask your lawyer to start work and apply for searches after the sales memo has been issued by the estate agent particularly as De Beauvoir Town conveyancing searches are not inexpensive.