My wife and I are getting closer to an exchange on a flat in Maida Vale and my mum and dad have transferred the exchange deposit to my property lawyer. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my property lawyer needs to disclose this to my lender. I am advised that, in also acting for the mortgage company he must inform them that the balance of the purchase price is coming from anyone other than me. I informed the bank regarding my parents' contribution when I applied for the home loan, so is it really appropriate for this now to delay the deal?
The solicitor is obliged to clarify with lender to make sure that they are aware that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. The solicitor can only notify this to your mortgage company if you permit them to, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
As someone not used to conveyancing in Maida Vale what is the number one tip you can impart concerning the legal transfer of property in Maida Vale
Not many law firms or advisers will tell you this but conveyancing in Maida Vale and elsewhere in England and Wales is an adversarial experience. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there exists plenty of opportunity for conflict between you and other parties involved in the legal transfer of property. E.g., the vendor, estate agent and even potentially a mortgage company. Choosing a solicitor for your conveyancing in Maida Vale should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE person in the transaction whose responsibility is to act in your best interests and to protect you.
Sometimes a third party with a vested interest may try and sway you that it is in your interests to do things their way. For instance, the property agent may claim to be helping by claiming that your lawyer is slow. Or your mortgage broker may tell you to do something that is against your solicitors advice. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties when it comes to the legal transfer of property.
I am about to put a bid on a leasehold flat in Maida Vale. The estate agents tell me that it is the norm for flats in Maida Vale to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am obtaining a mortgage with Platform. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has Seventy One years remaining.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting 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 26/10/2026 the requirements read as follows :
This question may be naive but I am new to the house moving as FTB of a two bedroom flat in Maida Vale. Do I receive the keys to the property on completion from my conveyancer? If this is the case, I will instruct a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Maida Vale?
On the day of completion you will not be required to go to the conveyancers office in Maida Vale. Your solicitors will electronically transfer the purchase money to the vendor’s lawyers, and once they have received this, you should be able to receive the keys from the selling Agents and move into your new home. This tends to happen between 1 and 3pm.
My aunt informed me that in purchasing a property in Maida Vale there may be a number of restrictions affecting the ability to carry out external alterations to a property. Is this right?
There are a number of properties in Maida Vale which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to perform external variations. Part of the conveyancing in Maida Vale should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Skipton, do Maida Vale solicitors face a fee to be on the list of approved solicitors?
We are unaware of any lender fees to register on their list of approved firms, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.
I have been told that property searches are the primary cause of stalling in Maida Vale house deals. Is this right?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released conclusions of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the most frequent causes of hindrances in the conveyancing process. Local searches are unlikely to be the root cause of delay in conveyancing in Maida Vale.
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up as part of conveyancing in Maida Vale?
Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Maida Vale. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’