I have just started taking steps with the intention of switching my existing standard home loan to a Buy to Let Barclays mortgage. The bank has said that I require a lawyer for this. I got in contact with my past Spitalfields conveyancing firm who acted on my behalf when I first purchased the premises. The costs estimate sent of £575 plus disbursements has taken me by surprise as I am not require purchase conveyancing - it’s just a straightforward remortgage.
The estimate fees are a bit high. If you are prepared to spend time contrasting prices you could shave off some of the cost by say a hundred pounds. On the other hand, if you were happy with the conveyancing the firm provided you mightcome to regret opting for an an untested conveyancer. Don't forget to ensure that the conveyancer can act for Barclays . You can employ our search tool to find a Spitalfields conveyancing firm on the Barclays member panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Spitalfields.
We were just about to sign contracts for a garden flat in Spitalfields. We encountered a problem. The loan offer with Aldermore expires on 1/9/2026 but the sellers are insisting on a completion date of 3/9/2026. Is it possible to prolong the mortgage offer?
The person best placed to address this concern is your lawyer who should assess whether he or she is should be discussing with the lender, owner’s representatives, property agents or indeed all parties taking into account the history of your conveyancing as of today.
I have been told that property searches are the number one reason for stalling in Spitalfields house deals. Is that correct?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published findings of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature within the most frequent causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are not likely to be the root cause of delay in conveyancing in Spitalfields.
I have a semi-detached Georgian house in Spitalfields. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Skipton Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??
You need to assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Spitalfields and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also enquire as to the situation with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.
How does conveyancing in Spitalfields differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Spitalfields come to us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is completed. This is because house builders in Spitalfields tend to buy the site, 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 property lawyers 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Spitalfields or who has acted in the same development.
My husband and I hope to acquire our 1st property in Spitalfields. Conveyancing lawyer already instructed. The financial consultant advised that a survey is not necessary as the house was only built in 2002.
As the bare minimum you need a Home Buyer's Report. As the property is over ten years old the property will be without a warranty, so you don't want to take a risk. Where a property of this age shows no signs of problems a Home Buyer's report may be sufficient. The report should highlight any apparent problems and suggest further investigation where appropriate. If there are any signs of problems obtain a full structural survey.