We are acquiring a new build apartment in Rotherhithe and my solicitor is telling me that she is duty bound to the bank to reveal incentives from the seller. The Estate Agents are hassling me to sign contracts and I would rather not delay matters. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your property lawyer. A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
My wife and I purchasing a victorian detached house in Rotherhithe. The intention is to carry out a loft conversion at the house.Will the conveyancing process include investigations to see if these alterations are allowed?
Your solicitor should check the deeds as conveyancing in Rotherhithe can occasionally reveal restrictions in the title deeds which prohibit categories of works or need the permission of another owner. Certain extensions need local authority planning permissions and approval under the building regulations. Certain locations are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or affect extensions. You should check these things with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Yorkshire BS, do Rotherhithe property lawyers face an annual charge to be on the list of approved solicitors?
We are unaware of any mortgage company fees to be on their panel, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
I had an offer accepted on a house in Rotherhithe on 11/7/2025, valuation was booked 4 days later, received a clean bill of health. Conveyancer appointed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to UBS and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the UBS conveyancing panel. Are UBS entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for UBS to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the UBS conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
The deeds to our home are lost. The conveyancers who conducted the conveyancing in Rotherhithe 5 years ago no longer exist. What do I do?
In today’s world there are copies made of almost everything, and your conveyancer will be aware precisely where to find all the appropriate paperwork so you may purchase or sell your property without a hitch. If duplicates can’t be found, your lawyer may be able to arrange cover in the form of insurance or indemnities against possible claims on your premises.
I'm buying my first flat in Rotherhithe benefiting from help to buy. The developers refused to budge the amount so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The sale representative suggested that I not disclose to my lawyer about the extras as it could jeopardize my loan with the bank. Is this normal?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in two weeks back in what should have been a simple, chain free conveyancing. Rotherhithe is the location of the property. Is there any guidance you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Rotherhithe are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Rotherhithe you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Rotherhithe 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 solicitors in Rotherhithe have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with the mortgage company. Is it case that being on the bank conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
Different lenders have different requirements but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the mortgage company Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting the bank directly.