I require conveyancing for an apartment in a relatively new development (five years old) in Eastleigh. 95% of the flats are already disposed of. Is it really necessary to order local searches as part of conveyancing in Eastleigh?
A big part of the Eastleigh conveyancing process is the conveyancing searches. There are a large number of companies delivering Eastleigh conveyancing searches, as well direct from the local authority. These are known collectively as personal search providers due to them carrying out, personal searches. Nevertheless, all Local Authority Search conveyancing products have one thing in common - they must obtain their data from the local authoritative source.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Eastleigh. My lender is Accord Mortgages
Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 21/3/2025, the requirements read as follows :
There are numerous conveyancing solicitors in Eastleigh but how do I know who's good?
We would encourage you not to go for the cheapest Eastleigh conveyancing fees. You really do get what you’re paying for when it comes to property lawyers. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you go into the conveyancing with your eyes wide open.
How can we know in advance if a Eastleigh conveyancing solicitor on the UBS panel is any good?
When it comes to conveyancing in Eastleigh seeking recommendations is a good start. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always recommend that you speak with the lawyer conducting your conveyancing.
I recently had an offer agreed on a house in Eastleigh. My mortgage broker suggested a conveyancer. I paid an upfront payment of £225. A couple of days later, the lawyer contacted me to say that they were not on the Lloyds conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Lloyds panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
I'm buying my first flat in Eastleigh with a loan from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. The developers would not move on the amount so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The house builders rep advised me not reveal to my solicitor about the side-deal as it will affect my loan with the lender. Is this normal?.
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.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in two weeks back in what should have been a quick, no chain conveyancing. Eastleigh is the location of the property. Is there any guidance you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Eastleigh are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Eastleigh you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Eastleigh may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.
At last I have had an offer on an apartment in Eastleigh accepted, the owner does however have a dependent purchase. The owners have offered on a property, however it’s not yet agreed to, and has viewings of other properties in the pipeline. I have instructed a local conveyancing solicitor in Eastleigh. What should be my next step? At what point do I apply for the mortgage with Leeds Building Society?
It is normal to have anxieties where there is a chain given your reluctance to incur expenses too early (home loan application is in the region of £1k, then survey, Eastleigh conveyancing search costs, etc). First, you must check that your property lawyer is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. As to the next stages this very much depends on the specifics of your transaction, desire for this property and on the state of the market. In a hot market some buyers would apply for a home loan with Leeds Building Society and pay for the survey and only if it comes back ok would they ask their solicitor to move forward with the conveyancing in Eastleigh.