Me and my partner are purchasing a 2 bedroom flat in Hale Barns with a mortgage. We have a Hale Barns lawyer, but the bank advise he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the mortgage company panel solicitors or retain our Hale Barns lawyer and pay for one of their panel firms to represent them. We regard this is inequitable; are we not able to demand that the mortgage company use our Hale Barns lawyer ?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your Hale Barns conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Hale Barns is more expensive?
Hale Barns leasehold properties involve far more paperwork than a freehold purchase, and therefore takes more time to examine and advise upon.Conveyancing will involve the lease having to be checked which is usually a lengthy document, queries raised to ensure that the covenants and conditions have been observed. If it is a flat there will be a management company in existence and the accounts of this will need to be checked and enquiries raised to ensure it is operating efficiently and that all monies due have been paid by the Seller to the company and if not ensuring that money is paid up to date or the appropriate undertakings obtained.
A colleague advised me that in buying a property in Hale Barns there could be various restrictions affecting the ability to carry out external changes to a property. Is this right?
We are aware of a number of properties in Hale Barns which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to execute external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Hale Barns should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
The formalities of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Hale Barns. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
All lenders have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.
I had an offer accepted on an apartment in Hale Barns on 24/10/2025, valuation was booked 4 days after, all came back fine. Conveyancer retained, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Kent Reliance and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Are Kent Reliance entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Kent Reliance to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
I need some quick conveyancing in Hale Barns as I am faced with a deadline to sign on the dotted line inside one month. A home loan is not required. Is it possible to escape the need for conveyancing searches to save fees and time?
As you are not obtaining a home loan you have the choice not to have searches carried out although no law firm would recommend that you don't. With lots of history conveyancing in Hale Barns the following are instances of issues that can show up and adversely impact market value: Enforcement Actions, Overdue Fees, Outstanding Grants, Road Schemes,...
How does conveyancing in Hale Barns differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build property in Hale Barns contact us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is built. This is because developers in Hale Barns typically purchase the land, 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 Hale Barns or who has acted in the same development.
In my capacity as executor for the estate of my grandmother I am selling a property in Monmouth but I am based in Hale Barns. My lawyer (based 260 miles awayhas requested that I sign a stat dec prior to the transaction finalising. Can you recommend a conveyancing lawyer in Hale Barns to attest and place their company stamp on the document?
strictly speaking you should not be required to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or qualified solicitor will be fine regardless of whether they are located in Hale Barns