I am hoping to move into my new home in Gower next Tuesday. My solicitor now wants me to supply her with proof of content and building insurance for the property as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the bank. What does the insurance need to cover?
All property lawyers on acting for mortgage companies would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions. These requirements are not unique to conveyancing in Gower.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Gower. My lender is Chelsea Building Society
Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 26/7/2025, the requirements read as follows :
Can I be sure that the Gower conveyancing solicitor on the RBS panel is any good?
When it comes to conveyancing in Gower obtaining recommendations is a sensible 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 advise that you speak with the lawyer conducting your conveyancing.
I have today made my last payment due on my mortgage with Leeds Building Society. I assume I don't need a Gower lawyer on the Leeds Building Society panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.
If you have finished paying off your Leeds Building Society mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Leeds Building Society mortgage from the register. Leeds Building Society, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where Leeds Building Society has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- Leeds Building Society has instructed the Land Registry to do so
I recently had an offer agreed on a house in Gower. My financial adviser recommended their conveyancers. I paid an advanced payment of £175. Not long after, the solicitor contacted me to say that they were not on the Aldermore 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 Aldermore 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.
Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to our house can not be found. The lawyers who handled the conveyancing in Gower 10 years ago have long since closed. Will I be able to sell the house?
Assuming you have a registered title the information relating to your ownership will be evidenced by the Land Registry with a Title Number. It is possible to carry out a search at the Land Registry, identify your property and obtain current copies of the Registered Entries for less than a fiver. If the title is Leasehold then the Land Registry will in most cases retain a certified duplicate of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be ordered for £20 inclusive of VAT.
How does conveyancing in Gower differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build property in Gower come to us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is finished. This is because house builders in Gower usually acquire the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Gower or who has acted in the same development.
Am I best advised to go with a Gower conveyancing practitioner who is local to the property I am hoping to buy? We have a good friend who can deal with the legal work however his firm is located approximately 350miles drive away.
The benefit of a high street Gower conveyancing firm is that you can attend the office to sign documents, present your ID and pester them if necessary. They will also have local knowledge which is a bonus. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust instructed your friend and in the main were impressed that must surpass using an unknown Gower conveyancing solicitor just because they are Gower based.