My wife and I are looking to purchase a property in Old Oak Common and are in fact using a Old Oak Common conveyancing practice. Within the last couple of days our solicitor has forwarded the sale agreement to be signed with a detailed report in anticipation of exchanging contracts shortly. Platform Home Loans Ltd have this afternoon contacted us to inform me that there is now an issue as our Old Oak Common lawyer is not on their approved list of lawyers. Please explain?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is usual for the purchasers' solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your property lawyer should contact your lender and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own solicitors to act. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the lender’s conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred Old Oak Common lawyers, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Old Oak Common. My lender is Platform
Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 10/2/2025, the requirements read as follows :
I am selling our house in Old Oak Common and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. Any local conveyancer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers instructed an online conveyancing practice rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Old Oak Common. Having lived in Old Oak Common for 4 years we know that this is a non issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to obtain clarification that the buyers are looking for.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing lawyer already. What do they say? You need to enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same ailment)
How does conveyancing in Old Oak Common differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Old Oak Common approach us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is completed. This is because developers in Old Oak Common tend to buy the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Old Oak Common or who has acted in the same development.
Is it simple use the search facility to get a costs illustration from a conveyancing practitioner in Old Oak Common on the approved list for my lender?
Step one is to choose a bank such as Accord Mortgages Ltd, Bank of Scotland or TSB then type in your preferred area for example Old Oak Common. Conveyancing practices in Old Oak Common and nationally will then be listed.
I need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor for my conveyancing in Old Oak Common. I've land on a site which appears to be the perfect offering If it is possible to get all the legals done via web that would be ideal. Should I be wary? What are the potential pitfalls?
As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?