My solicitor has uncovered a a problem with the lease for the apartment we are purchasing in Stonehouse. The seller’s lawyers have put forward title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will cover the costs. Our conveyancer has advised that he must be satisfied that the bank is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is the lender?
Notwithstanding that you have a mortgage offer from the lender does not mean to say that the property will meet their requirements for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. You and the lender are the client. These conveyancing instructions have to be complied with.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Stonehouse. My lender is Chelsea Building Society
Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 30/10/2025, the requirements read as follows :
What is your number one tip for choosing a conveyancing solicitor in Stonehouse
We would encourage you not to go for the lowest Stonehouse conveyancing quote. You really do get what you’re paying for when it comes to conveyancing solicitors. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you go into the conveyancing with your eyes wide open.
I am due to exchange contracts on my house. I had a double glazing fitted in March 2006, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's lender, Leeds Building Society are being problematic. The Stonehouse solicitor who is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel is recommending indemnity insurance as a solution but Leeds Building Society are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do Leeds Building Society have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Leeds Building Society have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Leeds Building Society may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.
My sealed bid on a house in Stonehouse has been agreed to, the sellers do however have a connected purchase. The owners have placed an offer on a flat, however it’s not yet tied up, and have viewings of other flats in the pipeline. I have selected a nearby conveyancing solicitor in Stonehouse. What should be my next step? When do I get the mortgage application with Virgin Money going?
It is normal to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey, Stonehouse conveyancing search fees, etc). First, you must ensure that your conveyancing practitioner is on the Virgin Money approved list. As to the subsequent phase this very much depends on the uniqueness of your transaction, motivation for the property and on the state of the market. During a buoyant market the majority of home buyers will apply for the mortgage with Virgin Money and arrange for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they request their conveyancer to move forward with searches.
I used Wolstenholmes a few years ago for my conveyancing in Stonehouse. Now, I need my files however the law firm has closed. What do I do?
Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Stonehouse of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
I am looking for a ground for flat up to £195,000 and identified one round the corner in Stonehouse I like with amenity areas and railway links nearby, the downside is that it's only got 52 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Stonehouse for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?
If you need a home loan that many years will be an issue. Discount the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.
Do online conveyancing companies do everything a high street Stonehouse solicitor does or must I employ a solicitor for the final stages for my conveyancing in Stonehouse?
If you choose an online conveyancer they will cover all the tasks your Stonehouse solicitor would cover.