Me and my wife are buying a ground floor flat in Radford. My property lawyer has never been on on the bank solicitor panel. Am I still permitted to retain my Radford conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the mortgage company panel?
You will need to appoint a conveyancer to complete the legal work required when you require a loan to purchase your home. The conveyancing practitioner will carry out all the relevant legal checks on the property, ensuring that you will be properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the necessary mortgage documentation is dealt with. You could instruct a Radford solicitor of your choosing. However, where the lawyer appointed is not on the mortgage company approved list supplemental fees will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by them. Bank panel applications can be submitted, so provided your conveyancer has not historically sought membership they can do so.
My lawyer has identified a a legal deficiency with the lease for the property we are purchasing in Radford. The other side have offered title insurance as a solution. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our lawyer says that he must check that the lender is willing to move forward with this solution. Who is the client here, us or the lender?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and the lender are the client. Your lawyer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects with the lease so that the bank can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your solicitor will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Radford. My lender is Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 13/11/2026, the requirements read as follows :
My partner and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from RBS as we want to conduct renovations to our home in Radford. Are we obliged to choose a bricks and mortar Radford solicitor on the RBS conveyancing panel to handle the paperwork?
RBS don't usually instruct firms on their conveyancing panel to deal with the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the RBS conveyancing panel.
I had a mortgage agreed in principle with HSBC. Radford conveyancing practitioners are chosen. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from HSBC?
Some lenders take longer than others. Have HSBC conducted the survey? Have you informed HSBC as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the HSBC conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.
After what feels like an age I have had an offer on a flat in Radford accepted, the vendors do nevertheless have a tied purchase. The vendors have offered on a property, but it’s not been accepted yet, and are looking at other flats in the pipeline. I have instructed a high street conveyancing solicitor in Radford. What should be my next step? At what point do I apply for the mortgage with UBS?
It is normal to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket prematurely (mortgage application is approx one thousand pounds, then survey, Radford conveyancing search fees, etc). The first thing to do is check that your conveyancing practitioner is on the UBS approved list. Regarding the subsequent phase this very much depends on the circumstances of your transaction, desire for the property and on the state of the market. During a rising market many purchasers will apply for a home loan with UBS and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they request their property lawyer to press on with searches.
I am purchasing a property and the lawyer has referenced Chancel Repair to which the house may be obligated to pay given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. She has mentioned insurance. Is this strictly necessary for conveyancing in Radford
Unless a prior purchase of the house took place post 12 October 2013 you may take it that conveyancing practitioners delivering conveyancing in Radford to continue to recommend a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.
I have just appointed agents to market my 2 bed apartment in Radford. Conveyancing has not commenced, but I have just had a yearly service charge demand – what should I do?
Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should discharge the service charge as normal because all ground rent and service charges should be allotted as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you will be reimbursed by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.
I acquired a 1st floor flat in Radford, conveyancing formalities finalised 9 years ago. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Similar properties in Radford with a long lease are worth £180,000. The ground rent is £65 per annum. The lease runs out on 21st October 2085
With only 59 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £20,900 and £24,200 plus professional fees.
The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs in the absence of detailed investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.