I am in the process of selling my apartment in Mottingham and the estate agent has just e-mailed to say that the purchasers are appointing a new law firm. The reason given is that the bank will only work with property lawyers on their conveyancing panel. Why would a leading mortgage company only work with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to choose for their conveyancing in Mottingham ?
Mortgage companies have always had an approved set of law firms they are content to work with, but in recent years big names such as Nationwide, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for more than 15 years.
Lending institutions point to the increase in fraud by way of justification for the pruning – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms are unaware that they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your purchasers are not going to have any sway in the decision.
We see that you have a post code search directory identifying solicitors on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for our conveyancing in Mottingham?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Mottingham.
About to place an offer on a leasehold flat in Mottingham. The estate agents say that it is standard for flats in Mottingham to have less than 75 years left on the lease. I am expecting a mortgage with Tesco Bank. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 70 years to go.
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. Tesco Bank have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 14/7/2026 the requirements read as follows :
I opted to have a survey done on a property in Mottingham ahead of instructing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor advised that some lenders tend refuse to give a mortgage on this type of home.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Lloyds has different requirements from Birmingham Midshires. If you contact us we can investigate further via the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Mottingham. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Mottingham especially if they are acquainted with such properties in Mottingham.
My partner has suggested that I use his lawyers for conveyancing in Mottingham. Do I take his advice?
Much as we are happy to recommend a Mottingham conveyancing lawyer the best way to choose a conveyancing practitioner is to have feedback from friends or relatives who have actually used the firm that you are are thinking of instructing.
I’m about to sell my 2 bed apartment in Mottingham. Conveyancing has not commenced, however I have recently had a half-yearly service charge demand – Do I pay up?
It best that you clear the maintenance contribution as usual as all rents and service charges should be apportioned as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.
My wife and I have hit a brick wall in trying to purchase the freehold in Mottingham. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?
Where there is a missing landlord or if there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to decide the price payable.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Mottingham flat is 49 Woodstock Court Burnt Ash Hill in May 2012. the payment of £64,116 by the leaseholder was the premium which the Tribunal found due for the lease extension in this case. This case affected 1 flat. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 23.26 years.