It has come to my attention via my IFA that my Keston property lawyer is not on the bank Conveyancing panel. What can I do to be certain that this is indeed the case?
You need to contact your Keston conveyancer. You lawyer should inform you what has happened. Where they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the approved list of lawyers for your mortgage company.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Keston. My lender is Platform
Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 7/10/2025, the requirements read as follows :
Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to our house are lost. The conveyancers who did the conveyancing in Keston 5 years ago no longer exist. What do I do?
Nowadays there are copies made of almost everything, and your lawyer should know exactly where to look for all the appropriate paperwork so you may buy or sell your house without any difficulty. If duplicates are not available, your conveyancer may be able to put in place insurance or indemnities against possible claims on your property.
How does conveyancing in Keston differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Keston come to us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is completed. This is because developers in Keston usually acquire 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 Keston or who has acted in the same development.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Keston is where the house is located. Is there any guidance you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Keston are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Keston you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Keston may determine 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 premises.
We are in the middle of purchasing a property in Keston. Conveyancing solicitor has told us the property is "Leasehold". Should this make a difference on our mortgage valuation?
Keston conveyancing does not usually involve leasehold houses. The main consideration here is the unexpired lease term and the ground rent. If there are hundred of years years remaining with a nominal rent, it's essentially freehold, so it’s unlikely to impact the marketability too much.
At the other end of the spectrum, if it's, say, fifty five years it will have a material impact on the saleability, and probably wouldn't be mortgageable. The length of lease and ground rent will be stated in the lease to be supplied to your solicitor.