I'm the single recipient of my late mum's estate and I have everything in my name now, including the house in Portishead. The Portishead property was put into my name in April. I plan to dispose of the property. I understand that there is a CML six month 'rule', which means that my property ownership could be considered the same way as though I had purchased the property in April. Do I have to wait half a year to sell?
The CML handbook mandates solicitors to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." Technically you may be impacted by that. Some banks would take a sensible view as this obligation chiefly exists to identify subsales or the quick reselling of property.
When it comes to lenders such as Leeds Building Society, do Portishead solicitors incur a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are unaware of any mortgage company fees to register on their panel, although some do levy an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
I currently have a mortgage with TSB for my property in Portishead. Conveyancing was finalised some time ago. In the event that I decide to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a BTL mortgage or inform TSB?
TSB must be informed of your intention prior to letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of TSB’s mortgage conditions. It may be that TSB will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact TSB directly. You need not do this via a TSB conveyancing panel solicitor.
I am close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our home in Portishead and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was built land that was not decontaminated. Any local conveyancer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the buyers are using a nationwide conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Portishead. We have lived in Portishead for 5 years we know of no issue. Do we contact our local Authority to seek clarification that there is no issue.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing solicitor already. Are they able to advise? You should 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 health insurance to cover that same sickness)
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Portishead is where the house is located. Is there any guidance you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Portishead are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Portishead you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Portishead may ascertain 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 property.
I'm refinancing my current property to a buy to let mortgage with Alliance & Leicester and intend to use the remaining equity as a deposit on a second house. The neighborhood we are talking about is Portishead. Will your solicitors be able to act for the two banks and link together the conveyances?
Make use of our comparison tool on this page to check that the conveyancers are approved by both lenders. Having checked that they are the lawyer should be able to connect the two transactions but you should talk with you solicitor and make apparent your expectations and requirements.
I am a couple of weeks into a residential purchase having been directed to a firm by the estate agent to do our conveyancing in Portishead. I am am extremely disappointed with the level of service. Could you you assist me in finding new lawyers?
A solicitor would have to be very bad in order to consider replacing them. Has your loan offer been generated? If so you will need to advise them of the new conveyancer and have the loan are issued to the new lawyers. The solicitor ideally needs to be on the mortgage company approved list to avoid added charges and frustration. So that should be your starting point. The search tool should help you find a bank approved conveyancer for your conveyancing in Portishead
My fiance and I recently become aware that one of the partners of the conveyancing practice undertaking the purchase conveyancing in Portishead is a relative of the owners that we are purchasing from. Is this acceptable?
On the basis that no conflict arises this is allowable. If you are needing a home loan then the lender may have a say as many lenders have specific requirements on this. For example for HSBC as of 4/5/2026, the requirements read as follows :