Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Peterlee. My lender is Chelsea Building Society
Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 2/12/2025, the requirements read as follows :
My wife and I own a semi-detached Georgian property in Peterlee. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Halifax. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold under the matching property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Peterlee and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also enquire as to the situation with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in last month in what was supposed to be a quick, chain free conveyancing. Peterlee is where the house is located. Can you shed any light on this issue?
Flying freeholds in Peterlee are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Peterlee you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Peterlee 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.
I was advised by a number of property agents in Peterlee to choose a solicitor on your site. Is there a financial incentive for Estate Agents to recommend your lawyers rather than alternative conveyancing organisations?
We refuse to offer any commission for pointing buyers and sellers our way. We found it would be just too difficult a fee as members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.
Should I choose a Peterlee conveyancing lawyer based in the vicinity that I am purchasing? An old friend can perform the legal work but her office is 400kilometers drive away.
The benefit of a high street Peterlee conveyancing firm is that you can drop in to sign documents, hand in your identification documents and apply pressure on them where appropriate. Having local Peterlee know how is a plus. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who instructed your friend and in the main were content that must trump using an unfamiliar Peterlee conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being local.
I am buying a flat and cash is in place. My conveyancer has been given with 2 separate forms of photographic identification, bank statement, multiple utility bills. Now he requires a copy from a probate lawyer acknowledging that the money is in place and that it has come from inheritance and not via illegitimate means.
In today’s world you will not be able to complete any Peterlee conveyancing transaction without first providing evidence of your identity to your lawyers. This usually takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence and a utility bill. Remember if you are providing your driving licence as evidence of ID it must be both the paper part and photo card part, one is not acceptable without the other. Evidence of your source of funds is required under Money Laundering Regulations.