I require conveyancing for a flat in a relatively new development (five years old) in Downham Market. The vast majority the flats are already occupied. Do I need carry out the local searches for my conveyancing in Downham Market?
If you are buying a property with the assistance of a mortgage, your mortgage company will need some (many) of the searches so you'll have no choice. If not, then Downham Market conveyancing searches are optional. Your solicitor, will 'advise', perhaps strongly, that you should have the searches done, but he or she is duty bound in this regard. One thing to bear in mind; if you are likely to sell the house one day, it may be of interest to your future buyer what the searches contain. Sometimes houses with no practical issues can still throw up adverse search results. But if you insist that your lawyer to proceed without searches then your lawyer will have to follow your instructions or you will need to swap to another solicitor for your conveyancing in Downham Market.
Do banks and building societies provide you with an approved list of Downham Market conveyancing solicitors? How do you know who is on the UBS conveyancing panel?
Downham Market conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the UBS conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from UBS directly.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Downham Market. My lender is Platform
Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 13/1/2026, the requirements read as follows :
I understand that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Do I need this when purchasing a property in Downham Market? or Apparently there is historic law that means some homeowners living in a parish church boundary will be compelled to contribute towards repairs towards the chancel in proximity to the church. Is this applicable for conveyancing in Downham Market?
Unless a previous acquisition of the house completed after 12 October 2013 you may assume that solicitors handling conveyancing in Downham Market to continue to suggest a chancel search and or chancel repair liability insurance.
Me and my brother purchased a renovated Victorian property in Downham Market. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the matching address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??
You need to assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Downham Market and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the position with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted the purchase.
I opted to have a survey completed on a house in Downham Market prior to appointing conveyancers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. Our surveyor advised that some mortgage companies tend refuse to issue a mortgage on this type of premises.
It depends who your proposed lender is. HSBC has different requirements for example to Nationwide. If you e-mail us we can check via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Downham Market. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Downham Market to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.