My wife and I are purchasing a 3 bedroom apartment in Sidmouth with a mortgage. We wish to retain our Sidmouth conveyancer, but the lender says he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the lender panel solicitors or keep our Sidmouth conveyancing practitioner as well as pay for one of their panel firms to act for them. This feels very unfair; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your Sidmouth conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
I am assisting my aunt sell her house in Sidmouth. Does the conveyancer arrange an EPC or should I organise this?
Following the demise of Home Information Packs, EPC’s remained a mandatory component of moving house. An energy performance certificate needs to be to hand before the property is marketed. It is not something that conveyancers normally arrange. If you are using a Sidmouth conveyancing practitioner they may be willing to arrange energy assessments given their relationships with long established local providers
I just bought a property at auction in Sidmouth. Conveyancing is needed. What are my next steps?
Having legally committed yourself to purchase you should retain a conveyancing practitioner quickly as you now have a fast approaching a drop dead date to complete the purchase. An auction property will have a corresponding legal set of papers. This will include evidence of title and search results. If you have purchased leasehold premises the legal pack may provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing paperwork specific to leasehold premises. You must hand this to the conveyancer instructed by you as soon as possible. Do make sure that that you have the requisite funding in place to complete the transaction on the set completion date.
It is unclear whether my bank requires a lease extension. I have called my Sidmouth bank branch on a couple of occasions and was told it does not impact the mortgage offer and they would lend. My Sidmouth conveyancing solicitor - who is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel- called to say that they would not lend based on their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I simply don't know who is right.
The solicitor has to follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook Part 2 specifications for your bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the mortgage company to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
How does conveyancing in Sidmouth differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Sidmouth approach us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is constructed. This is because developers in Sidmouth usually acquire 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 conveyancers 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 Sidmouth or who has acted in the same development.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on two weeks back in what was supposed to be a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Sidmouth is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?
Flying freeholds in Sidmouth are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Sidmouth you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Sidmouth 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 residence.
I need to find a conveyancing solicitor for my conveyancing in Sidmouth. I happened to chance upon a web site which appears to be the perfect answer If it is possible to get all the legals done via email that would be preferable. Should I be concerned? What should out be looking out for?
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?
I bought a house in Sidmouth last 30/4/2025 and to date it is still not registered with the Land Registry. It is part of a development site and my conveyancing practitioner told me that it may take 12 months to register. I have spoken with HM Land Registry directly and they say that the initial application was cancelled due to questions not being addressed in time. Should I be concerned?
Call your conveyancer - if you are not getting sensible responses, look up their firm’s complaints protocol and amplify your concerns to a Complaints Manager. Registrations for Sidmouth conveyancing are not known to be significantly delayed.