I am progressing with the sale of my flat in Loughton and the EA has just telephoned to say that the purchasers are switching conveyancer. I am told that this is due to the fact that the bank will only engage with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. Why would a leading lender only work with specific law firms rather the firm that they want to appoint to handle their conveyancing in Loughton ?
Lenders have always had an approved set of law firms they are willing to work with, but in the past few years big names such as Santander, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for many years.
Lending institutions point to the increase in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been narrowed as a smaller panel is easier to oversee. Banks tend not to disclose how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. The buyers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Loughton. My lender is Bank of Ireland
Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 4/9/2026, the requirements read as follows :
Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in Loughton. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.
Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Loughton
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Please supply a car parking plan. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision.
Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Loughton in advance of instructing conveyancers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold element to the property. The surveyor has said that some banks tend not grant a loan on a flying freehold premises.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Halifax. If you e-mail us we can look into this further with the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Loughton. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Loughton to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.
Taking into account that I am about to part with over three hundred thousand on a property in Loughton I wish to have a conversation with the lawyer concerning thehome move before appointing the firm. Can this be arranged?
We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you first talking to the solicitor who will be carrying out your property ownership legalities in Loughton.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is an important individual, not a file reference. The practices that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are calculated and presented to you for your conveyancing in Loughton should be the amount on the final invoice that you are charged.
Am I best advised to go with a Loughton conveyancing practitioner in close proximity to the house I am hoping to buy? We have a good friend who can perform the legal work however her office is over three hundred miles away.
The benefit of a high street Loughton conveyancing firm is that you can attend the office to sign paperwork, deliver your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. Having local Loughton know how is a plus. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If other friends have used your friend and in the main were content that must surpass using an unfamiliar Loughton conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being based in the area.