Am I correct in assuming that the fact that my conveyancer in Hook is not identified on my bank's solicitor panel that there is a problem with the standard of the firm’s conveyancing?
It would be unwise to jump to that conclusion. There are plenty of reasonable explanations. Just recently a report by the solicitors regulator revealed 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The top 5 reasons are as follows: (1) low volume of transactions (2) the solicitor is a sole practitioner (3) as part of the HSBC panel reduction (4) regulatory contact by SRA (5) accidental removal. Should you be concerned you should contact the Hook conveyancing firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for your mortgage company.
My son-in-law is purchasing a new build apartment in Hook with a home loan from Skipton. His conveyancer has said that there is a delay in completing the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. Who needs to receive the form?
The document is intended to provide information to the main parties involved in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Skipton conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when asked. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Skipton conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.
Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Hook costs more?
The conveyancing costs on a leasehold premises in Hook is frequently more expensive when contrasted to a freehold acquisition or disposal. This is because there is an amount of supplemental time necessary in liaising with the landlord and managing agents to obtain information about whether the rent and maintenance fee have been paid and whether there are any significant expenditure in the near future on repairs or maintenance of the building.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Hook. My lender is Platform
Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 22/5/2026, the requirements read as follows :
My wife and I are purchasing a flat in Hook. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a solicitor? On completion day we will need to send money into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our money?
Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.
We previously selected conveyancing lawyers with offices in Hook on the Kent Reliance solicitor panel. They have just billed me a further sum for the legal aspects of the Kent Reliance mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Kent Reliance?
Provided it is contained in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your conveyancing practitioner may levy a fee for this. This fee is not set by Kent Reliance but by your Hook conveyancer. Some firms on the Kent Reliance panel will charge ’dealing with mortgage’ fee but plenty of practices incorporate it on their overall fee.
We were going to get a AIP from HSBC this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do HSBC recommend any Hook solicitors on the HSBC conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?
You will need to appoint Hook solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the HSBC conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and HSBC through the process.
How does conveyancing in Hook differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Hook come to us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is ready to move into. This is because house builders in Hook tend to buy 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 property lawyers 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 Hook or who has acted in the same development.