My partner and I are purchasing a newly constructed apartment in Gloucestershire and my conveyancer is telling me that she is duty bound to the mortgage company to reveal incentives from the seller. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to sign contracts and my preference is not to prolong the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your conveyancing practitioner. A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. The UK Finance Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I am about to put a bid on a leasehold property in Gloucestershire. The property agents advise that it is usual for flats in Gloucestershire to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am getting a mortgage with Virgin. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 72 years unexpired.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 25/10/2026 the requirements read as follows :
What is the difference between a licensed conveyancer and conveyancing solicitor in Gloucestershire
There are two types of lawyers who can do conveyancing in Gloucestershire namely licenced conveyancers or solicitors. Both professionals administer conveyancing services that required to complete the sale or purchase of property. Both are obliged to conduct Gloucestershire conveyancing on similar quality and guidelines so you may be sure that your conveyancing will be professionally carried out and that all requirements and steps should be correctly followed.
Can you help - my lawyer advises that defective lease insurance is necessary on my purchase. What is the level of cover for Gloucestershire conveyancing?
The right level of defective lease indemnity insurance depends on your lender. It would differ for example between Nationwide Building Society and The Royal Bank of Scotland. Conveyancing solicitors as opposed to members of the public take out such insurances.
It is unclear whether my lender obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called my Gloucestershire building society branch on various occasions and was informed it wasn't an issue and they would lend. My Gloucestershire conveyancing solicitor - who is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told they refuse to lend based on their specific requirements. I have no idea who is right.
Provided that the property lawyer is on the bank approved list, they must adhere to the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook conditions for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the bank will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.
My relative suggested that where I am purchasing in Gloucestershire I should ask my conveyancer to carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?
This is a search is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Gloucestershire conveyancing searches. It is a large document of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out significant information about Gloucestershire around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Gloucestershire Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Local Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information concerning Gloucestershire.
I used Arc property Solicitors a few years ago for my conveyancing in Gloucestershire. I now require my file but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Gloucestershire of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on last month in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Gloucestershire is where the house is located. Is there any guidance you can give?
Flying freeholds in Gloucestershire are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Gloucestershire you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Gloucestershire may ascertain 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 residence.