I can't travel far from New Forest. What is the rationale as to why all New Forest property lawyers are not on all mortgage company panels?
Banks highlight the fact that solicitor-led fraud is thought to be responsible for millions of pounds of fraud every year.The removal of law firms from lender panels started with the rise in mortgage fraud, which prompted a thematic review by the FSA in 2011. Its outcome included recommendations for lenders to review their conveyancing panels, which kicked off a major policy change in the sector. It led to banks and building societies pruning less reputable firms from their panel of approved solicitors .
Is there a list of Lloyds panel solicitors in New Forest on the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Website?
Unfortunately not yet. There is no such facility on the CML or Building Society Association websites. Very few banks make their panel listings open the public over the internet. Where you are seeking to appoint a New Forest property lawyer on the Lloyds please use our facility.
I'm spending time viewing houses in New Forest and I am about to put in an offer. Is it too early to have a solicitor in place? I will be getting a home loan with Coventry BS.
You should start requesting conveyancing estimates from solicitors ASAP. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their details on to the estate agent. As you are taking out a mortgage with Coventry BS, ask your prospective lawyers if they are on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
I had an offer accepted on a property in New Forest on 25/7/2025, valuation was booked 2 days after, received a clean bill of health. Conveyancer appointed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Virgin Money and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel. Are Virgin Money entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Virgin Money to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
Should my lawyer be raising enquiries regarding flooding as part of the conveyancing in New Forest.
The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for conveyancers dealing with homes in New Forest. There are those who acquire a property in New Forest, fully aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or dispose of the premises. Steps can be carried out during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the buyer.
Lawyers are not qualified to give advice on flood risk, however there are a number of checks that may be undertaken by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which should figure out the risks in New Forest. The standard property information forms sent to a purchaser’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a usual inquiry of the seller to discover whether the property has historically flooded. If flooding has previously occurred which is not notified by the owner, then a buyer could bring a legal claim for losses resulting from an misleading answer. A purchaser’s conveyancers may also commission an environmental search. This will indicate if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, additional investigations will need to be conducted.
The deeds to our house are lost. The solicitors who conducted the conveyancing in New Forest 10 years ago are no longer around. What are my options?
You no longer need to have the physical deeds to establish that you are the registered proprietor of land or premises, as the Land Registry have everything they need in a digital format.
My uncle has recommend that I appoint his conveyancers in New Forest. Do I follow his recommendation?
No doubt the ideal way to find a conveyancing practitioner is to seek recommendations from friends or family who have actually previously instructed the solicitor that you are contemplating using.
I am attracted to a couple of maisonettes in New Forest which have approximately fifty years remaining on the leases. Do I need to be concerned?
There are plenty of short leases in New Forest. The lease is a right to use the premises for a period of time. As the lease shortens the value of the lease reduces and results in it becoming more expensive to acquire a lease extension. For this reason it is often a good idea to extend the lease term. It is often difficult to sell a property with a short lease as mortgage lenders may be unwilling to lend money on properties of this type. Lease enfranchisement can be a difficult process. We recommend you get professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this area.
New Forest Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Queries before buying
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You should want to find out as much as possible concerning the company managing the building as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. As the owner of a leasehold property you will be at the mercy of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to daily issues such as the tidiness of the common parts. Enquire of other people what they think of them. On a final note, investigate as to the dates that you are obliged pay the maintenance charge to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money. Does the lease have in excess of 80 years unexpired? How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments?