Find a Lender-Approved Local Conveyancer in Swiss Cottage

Ready to buy a new home? Find a law firm approved by your lender.

Cheap conveyancing in Swiss Cottage does not necessarily mean low quality - but the odds are stacked against you

Top 5 reasons to use our service to assist you select a local conveyancing solicitor in Swiss Cottage

  • 1 Swiss Cottage property lawyers will be familiar with the local Land Registry Office, Local Authority and property agents
  • 2 Experience means that Swiss Cottage property lawyer have established valuable links with Swiss Cottage local estate agents, banks, building societies, landlords and property developers enabling them to liaise at speed with all concerned in the process of undertaking your conveyancing in Swiss Cottage.
  • 3 Regardless alternative on-line conveyancers tell you it may be important to pop into your conveyancer to execute documents. There are various parties with with an interest in a conveyancing transaction without having to add the postman into the mix.
  • 4 Low cost packages from online conveyancers might seem attractive. However, these firms are often based hundreds of kilometers away with little appreciation of the factors that impact property transactions in Swiss Cottage
  • 5 The hallmark of our conveyancing solicitors in Swiss Cottage is quality not quantity. The level of service offered by conveyancing "factories" (sometimes 'recommended' by national chain estate agents) sometimes falls short of the level of professionalism you would hope for.

Examples of recent conveyancing in Swiss Cottage since May 2025*

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in Swiss Cottage

I am six weeks into the sale of my maisonette in Swiss Cottage and the estate agent has just text me to warn that the buyers are switching law firm. I am told that this is due to the fact that the mortgage company will only engage with property lawyers on their approved list. On what basis would a big named lender only deal with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to choose to handle their conveyancing in Swiss Cottage ?

Mortgage companies have always had an approved set of law firms they are content to work with, but in recent years big names such as Nationwide, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for over 25 years.

Lending institutions blame a rise in fraud as the reason for the cull – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to keep an eye on. Banks tend not to reveal how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. The buyers are unlikely to have any sway in the decision.

My partner and I have just bought a house in Swiss Cottage. We have noticed several issues with the house which we believe were overlooked in the conveyancing searches. Do we have any recourse? Can you clarify the nature of searches that needed to have been carried out as part of conveyancing in Swiss Cottage?

The query is not clear as what problems have arisen and if they are relate to conveyancing in Swiss Cottage. Conveyancing searches and investigations undertaken as part of the buying process are carried out to help avoid problems. As part of the process, a property owner fills in a form known as a SPIF. If the information is inaccurate, you could possibly take legal action against the vendor for any losses that you have suffered. The survey should have identified any problems with the structure of the property. Assuming a detailed survey was carried out and the issues were not identified, you may have a claim against the surveyor. However, if you did not have a full survey, you may be responsible for fixing any defects that have now been noted. We would always encourage buyers to take every possible step to ensure they are completely aware of the condition of a property before purchase regardless of whether they are buying in Swiss Cottage.

How does conveyancing in Swiss Cottage differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Swiss Cottage approach us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is completed. This is because new home sellers in Swiss Cottage typically 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 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 used to new build conveyancing in Swiss Cottage or who has acted in the same development.

Due to the encouragement of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Swiss Cottage in advance of retaining conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the house. My surveyor has said that some mortgage companies will not grant a loan on a flying freehold property.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Lloyds has different instructions for example to Halifax. If you contact us we can check with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Swiss Cottage. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Swiss Cottage especially if they regularly deal with such properties in Swiss Cottage.

I am employed by a busy estate agent office in Swiss Cottage where we have witnessed a few flat sales jeopardised due to short leases. I have been given conflicting advice from local Swiss Cottage conveyancing firms. Please can you clarify whether the owner of a flat can commence the lease extension formalities for the buyer?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to commence the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. The benefit of this is that the buyer can avoid having to sit tight for 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment needs to be completed before, or at the same time as completion of the sale.

An alternative approach is to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the purchaser.

I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord to extend my lease without any joy. Can I make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a Swiss Cottage conveyancing firm to represent me?

Absolutely. We are happy to put you in touch with a Swiss Cottage conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Swiss Cottage residence is First Floor Flat 20 Fitzjohns Avenue in July 2014. the Tribunal decided that the premiums to be paid for new leases in respect of the Raised Ground Floor Flat and the First Floor Flat were to be calculated as: Raised Ground Floor: £765,175.14 First Floor: £601,617.77 This case related to 2 flats. The unexpired lease term was 16.83 and 16.43.

We today become aware that one of the directors of the law firm undertaking the purchase conveyancing in Swiss Cottage is a relative of the vendor. Is this permitted?

Provided no conflict arises this should be fine. If you are requiring a home loan then the lender may have a say as many banks have specific requirements concerning this. For example for Leeds Building Society as of 28/8/2025, the requirements read as follows :

1.15- May your firm act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the borrower?

Yes, provided that:

• a different person deals with the conveyance (i.e. not the borrower or a member of the borrower's immediate family);

• there is no conflict of interest and none arises during the transaction; and

• the Law Society guidelines are followed.

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Residential Landlord and Tenant Conveyancing solicitors in Swiss Cottage

The firms listed below are a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Swiss Cottage with expertise in landlord and tenant law and on the regulations governing different types of tenancies. This could include advice on Service charge disputes

  • Gh Canfields Llp, 129 Finchley Road, Swiss Cottage, London, NW3 6HY
  • Stringer Smith & Levett, 239a Finchley Road, London, NW3 6JB
  • Newtons, 22 Fitzjohns Avenue, London, NW3 5NB
  • M M Patel & Co, 26-28 Finchley Road, St. John's Wood, London, NW8 6ES
  • Craig Solicitors, 74 Belsize Lane, London, Greater London, NW3 5BJ

Domestic Licensed Conveyancers in Swiss Cottage regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers

Please note that the listed conveyancers do not limit their work for conveyancing in Swiss Cottage but also conveyancing across England and Wales.
  • Stratega Law Ltd, Sutherland House, W1F 7TE
  • House Owners Conveyancers Limited, 56 Windermere Avenue, N3 3RA
  • House Owners Conveyancers Limited, Dephina House, N3 2JU
  • Ldn Conveyancing Ltd, 3 Acton Hill Mews, W3 9QN
  • Quality Conveyancing Ltd, Westgate House, W5 1YY

Planning law solicitors in Swiss Cottage regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

The firms listed below are a small selection of solicitors in Swiss Cottage practicing in planning law. The solicitors can give expert legal advice on all aspects of planning, including tree preservation orders
  • F S Garford, 26 Fairfax Place, London, NW6 4EH
  • Grower Freeman, Ivor House, 25-26 Ivor Place, London, NW1 6HR
  • Glovers Solicitors Llp, 6 York Street, London, W1U 6QD
  • Streathers Solicitors Llp, 44 Baker Street, London, London, W1U 7AL
  • Streathers Trust Corporation Limited, 44 Baker Street, London, London, W1U 7AL

Neighboring Locations

Frognal
Hampstead
Swiss Cottage
Belsize Park
St John's Wood

*Source acknowledgement: House price data produced by Land Registry as well data supplied by Lexsure Ltd.

© Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of Land Registry under delegated authority from the Controller of HMSO.