My husband and I are buying a new build duplex in Old Malden and my lawyer is advising me that she is duty bound to the bank to reveal incentives from the developer. I am on a tight deadline to exchange contracts and I have no desire to delay deal. is my lawyer playing by the book?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your conveyancer. A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. The UK Finance Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Old Malden. My lender is Virgin
Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 13/10/2026, the requirements read as follows :
We had appointed conveyancers located in Old Malden on the Kent Reliance solicitor panel. They are now charging me a further fee for handling the Kent Reliance mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Kent Reliance?
As unfair as it may appear, as long as it’s in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your lawyer is entitled to charge a fee for this. This fee is not dictated by Kent Reliance but by your Old Malden conveyancer. Plenty of firms on the Kent Reliance panel will charge ’dealing with mortgage’ fee and others do not.
Completion of my purchase has taken place for my property in Old Malden. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about the lender. How does one go about formally complaining?
Most banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are sorted out very quickly. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.
Having digested plenty of house buying guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Old Malden solicitor - who is on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?
Bank of Ireland will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Bank of Ireland will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Old Malden postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Bank of Ireland, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Old Malden.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I have offered on two weeks back in what was supposed to be a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Old Malden is the location of the property. What do you suggest?
Flying freeholds in Old Malden are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Old Malden you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Old Malden may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.
My husband and I are novice buyers - agreed a price, but the agent has warned us that the owners will only go ahead if we appoint their preferred solicitors as they want a ‘quick sale’. Our preferred option is to instruct a high street conveyancer used to conveyancing in Old Malden
We suspect that the owner is unaware of this request. Should the seller want ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a motivated buyer is going to damage their objectives. Contact the vendors directly and make the point that (a)you are serious purchasers (b)you are excited to move forward, with finances in place © you have nothing to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you intend to appoint your preferred Old Malden conveyancing lawyers - rather thanthose that will provide the estate agent a commission or meet his conveyancing targets set by corporate headquarters.
Can you offer any advice when it comes to choosing a Old Malden conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Old Malden conveyancing practice) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggest that you speak with two or three firms including non Old Malden conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions might be helpful:
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What are the costs for lease extension conveyancing? Can they put you in touch with clients in Old Malden who can give a testimonial?
I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord for a lease extension without any joy. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on such matters? Can you recommend a Old Malden conveyancing firm to assist?
Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a Old Malden conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Old Malden premises is Flat D 15 Claremont Gardens in September 2013. TheTribunal determined in accordance with section48 and Schedule13 of the Leasehold Reform,Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 that the premium for the extended lease should be fourteen thousand one hundred and eighty seven pounds (£14,187.00) This case was in relation to 1 flat.