I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Tadworth. My lender is Platform
Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 8/5/2026, the requirements read as follows :
Is it the case that all Tadworth conveyancing solicitors on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel are governed by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Clydesdale approved list of solicitors they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many mortgage companies do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
We have agreed to purchase a house in Tadworth. An unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Aldermore have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
Given that your lender is Aldermore your lawyer must check the formal instructions set out in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Aldermore. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook contains minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancing practitioners are required to report to Aldermore where a lease fails to satisfy these specifications. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not restricted to Tadworth.
After shopping around on the internet I have found a Tadworth property lawyer having made sure that they are on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?
Aldermore will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Aldermore will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your conveyancing practitioner will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Tadworth postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Aldermore, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Tadworth.
I need some quick conveyancing in Tadworth as I have an ultimatum to exchange contracts within one month. A mortgage is not required. Is it possible to decline from having conveyancing searches to save fees and time?
As you are are a mortgage free purchaser you have the choice not to have searches carried out although no lawyer would recommend that you don't. Drawing on years of experience of conveyancing in Tadworth the following are examples of what can appear and therefore affect market value: Enforcement Notices, Overdue Charges, Overdue Grants, Road Schemes,...
I'm buying a new build house in Tadworth benefiting from help to buy. The developers would not move on the price so I negotiated 6k of fixtures and fittings instead. The estate agent advised me not disclose to my lawyer about this extras as it may put at risk my mortgage 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 have been recommended by two or three local estate agents in Tadworth to get a quote from a solicitor on your site. What’s the financial incentive for Estate Agents to offer your services over and above a competitor’s?
We refuse to give any referral fee for sending work to this site. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission as members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.
Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my ground floor apartment in Tadworth.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed however I have recently had a half-yearly service charge invoice – Do I pay up?
The sensible thing to do is pay the service charge as you normally would because all rents and maintenance invoices should be apportionedon completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially