I am searching for value for money conveyancer. Should I go for for a nationwide conveyancer rather than a family Merton Park conveyancing lawyer?
Existing third party connections are another important factor to consider when appointing conveyancing solicitors. Merton Park conveyancers often have long term relationships with lenders and property, local authorities, surveyors and other conveyancing firms meaning the whole process is going to be much smoother for you. Hosting vast insight into the local area is also a plus .
I am expecting a DIP from TSB this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do TSB recommend any Merton Park solicitors on the TSB conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?
You will need to appoint Merton Park solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the TSB conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and TSB through the process.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Merton Park off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Aldermore. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Aldermore, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Aldermore conveyancing panel.
I had an offer accepted on an apartment in Merton Park on 28/7/2025, valuation was booked 2 days after, all came back fine. Solicitor appointed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Yorkshire BS and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Yorkshire BS to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
Do I need to pay for insurance to cover chancel repairs when buying a house in Merton Park?
Unless a prior purchase of the house took place post 12 October 2013 you could assume that lawyers handling conveyancing in Merton Park to remain encouraging a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.
I used Wolstenholmes several years past for my conveyancing in Merton Park. I now require my file however the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?
Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Merton Park of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Merton Park with the aim of speeding up the sale process?
- Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Merton Park can be avoided if you appoint lawyers as soon as your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation which will be required by the buyers’ solicitors. You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to verify this via your lawyers. A buyer’s lawyer will not be happy to advise their client to to exchange contracts if the remaining number of years is under 75 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale. In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s permission? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Merton Park leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such changes. Where you dont have the consents to hand do not communicate with the landlord without checking with your conveyancer before hand. A minority of Merton Park leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain financial (bank) and professional references. The bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their lawyers.
I have had difficulty in trying to purchase the freehold in Merton Park. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?
in cases where there is a missing landlord or where there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to calculate the amount due.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Merton Park residence is 14 Nutwell Street in January 2014. The premium payable for the acquisition of a new lease of the subject premises was in the sum of £30,523 This case related to 1 flat. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 62.94 years.
Threeweeks into buying a property in Merton Park. Conveyancing lawyer has called to say the property is "Leasehold". Should this adversely affect the marketability of the house?
Merton Park conveyancing does not ordinarily involve leasehold houses. The crucial consideration here is the remaining lease term and the ground rent. If there are hundred of years years remaining with a peppercorn rent, it's virtually freehold, so it’s unlikely to affect the marketability too much.
On the flip side, if it's, say, 50 years it will have a significant effect on the saleability, and probably wouldn't be mortgageable. The length of lease and ground rent will be specified in the lease which should be made available to your conveyancing practitioner.