Why do I have to pay up front for conveyancing in New Malden?
Where you are retaining lawyers for conveyancing in New Malden your solicitor will ask you put them with funds to cover the the cost of the conveyancing searches. Ordinarily this is needed to cover the fees of the Local Authority Search. If any down payment is as part of the sale price then this should be asked for immediately prior to contracts are exchanged. Any further balance that is needed should be transferred shortly before completion.
I am about to put a bid on a leasehold property in New Malden. The property agents tell me that it is standard for flats in New Malden to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am getting a loan with Accord Mortgages. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 69 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. Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 30/11/2025 the requirements read as follows :
My solicitor has informed me that defective lease insurance is needed on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in New Malden?
The appropriate level of defective lease indemnity insurance should be dictated by who who your lender is. It would differ for example between Accord Mortgages Ltd and Bank of Scotland. Conveyancing practitioners as opposed to borrowers take out such insurances.
I'm in the process of looking at flats in New Malden and I am about to put in an offer. Is it wise to have my conveyancer on ‘stand by’? I intend to finance via a mortgage with Skipton.
It would be sensible to start your search sooner rather than later. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their contact information on to the selling agent. As you are taking out a mortgage with Skipton, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the Skipton conveyancing panel.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in New Malden. I have a mortgage agreed with TSB. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. 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 TSB, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the TSB conveyancing panel.
I used Action Conveyancing several years past for my conveyancing in New Malden. I now require my file however cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should 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 New Malden of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
Is it best to instruct a New Malden conveyancing practitioner who is local to the property I am hoping to buy? We have a good friend who can conduct the legal work but his firm is located a couple of hundredmiles drive away.
The benefit of a high street New Malden conveyancing practice is that you can attend the office to sign paperwork, present your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. Having local New Malden know how is a bonus. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If other friends have used your friend and the majority were impressed that must surpass using an unknown New Malden conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being based in the area.
My wife and I expecting to complete on the purchase a property in New Malden but as a consequence of wreckage from the recent storms I have negotiated compensation from the vendor of £3k taking the form of a reduction in the price. This was going to be addressed as part of the conveyancing process yet my lender will not permit this. Why were they approached?
Your solicitor being on the mortgage company approved list is duty bound to disclose to the lender of any changes to the purchase amount. If you were to refuse your conveyancer to report the reduction to your bank then they would have to disinstructing themselves from representing you and the mortgage company.