I have given 8 weeks notice to my current landlord and have to vacate my rented flat in Forest Hill by the end of next month. Conveyancing for my house purchase has just started. How realistic is it to complete in six weeks as don't want to have to move into temporary accommodation?
Generally one should not give notice for your letting until your lawyer suggests that you should. If you have not already done so, notify to your conveyancer and urge them to they chase the other side, try to get a realistic time scale from them that all parties will look towards
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Forest Hill. My lender is Accord Mortgages
Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 3/5/2026, the requirements read as follows :
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Clydesdale, do Forest Hill lawyers incur an annual charge to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are unaware of any lender fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do levy an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
We previously chose conveyancing lawyers based in Forest Hill on the Virgin Money solicitor panel. They are now charging me an additional fee for the legal aspects of the Virgin Money mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Virgin Money?
Unfortunately, so long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your conveyancer can charge a fee for this. The fee is not dictated by Virgin Money but by your Forest Hill solicitor. Some firms on the Virgin Money panel will charge ’dealing with mortgage’ fee and others do not.
The mortgage over my property is with RBS for my property in Forest Hill. Conveyancing has been completed 12 months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform RBS?
You must advise RBS prior to renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of RBS’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact RBS directly. You need not do this via a RBS conveyancing panel lawyer.
My wife and I have a terraced Victorian property in Forest Hill. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Santander. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?
You should 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 Forest Hill 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 enquire as to the situation with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the conveyancing.
I'm buying a new build house in Forest Hill with a loan from TSB. The developers refused to budge the amount so I negotiated 6k of fixtures and fittings instead. The sale representative advised me not disclose to my solicitor about this deal as it would affect 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.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one round the corner in Forest Hill I like with a park and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 52 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Forest Hill suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?
If you require a home loan the shortness of the lease may be an issue. Reduce the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you could ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.