I am expecting a mortgage offer from Halifax. I hope to use a Licensed Conveyancer in Ilfracombe. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel exclude Licensed Conveyancers?
The Halifax approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the CML or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
My wife and I are refinancing our maisonette in Ilfracombe with HSBC. We have a son 19 who lives with us. Our solicitor requested us to identify any adults other than ourselves who lives in the flat. Our lawyer has now e-mailed a document for our son to sign, giving up any rights in the event that the property is forfeited by the lender. I have two questions (1) Is this form unique to the HSBC conveyancing panel as he never had to sign this form when we remortgaged 3 years ago (2) In signing this form is our son in any way compromising his right to inherit the property?
On the face of it your lawyer has done nothing wrong as it is established procedure for any occupier who is aged 17 or over to sign the necessary Consent Form, which is purely to state that any rights he has in the property are postponed and secondary to HSBC. This is solely used to protect HSBC if the property were re-possessed so that in such circumstances, your son would be legally obliged to leave. It does not impact your son’s right to inherit the apartment. Please note that if your son were to inherit and the mortgage in favour of HSBC had not been discharged, he would be liable to take over the loan or pay it off, but other than that, there is nothing stopping him from keeping the property in accordance with your will or the rules of intestacy.
Is there a reason why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Ilfracombe is more expensive?
Ilfracombe 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.
I am about to put an offer on a leasehold flat in Ilfracombe. The selling agents assure me that it is standard for flats in Ilfracombe to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am expecting a loan with Platform. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 72 years unexpired.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 26/1/2026 the requirements read as follows :
I am buying a new build house in Ilfracombe with a loan from Santander. The developers would not budge the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of extras instead. The sale representative advised me not disclose to my lawyer about this extras as it may jeopardize my mortgage with Santander. Is this normal?.
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.
I decided to have a survey completed on a property in Ilfracombe in advance of retaining lawyers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. Our surveyor advised that some lenders may refuse to give a loan on this type of house.
It varies from the lender to lender. Lloyds has different requirements for example to Birmingham Midshires. If you e-mail us we can check with the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Ilfracombe. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.