My husband and I wish to acquire a purpose built flat in Tonbridge with a homeloan from Leeds Building Society.We use our Tonbridge conveyancing solicitor but Leeds Building Society informed us he's not listed on their approved list of firms. It seems we have little choice but to instruct a Leeds Building Society panel lawyer or keep our high street solicitor and fork out for a Leeds Building Society panel lawyer to represent them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The loan issued to you is subject to its terms and conditions, a common one being that solicitors will be on the Leeds Building Society approved list. in the past, most banks had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could find 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. A further alternative is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Leeds Building Society
We had selected conveyancing lawyers located in Tonbridge on the Leeds Building Society solicitor approved list. They are now charging me a further sum for handling the Leeds Building Society mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Leeds Building Society?
As unfair as it may appear, as long as it’s in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your lawyer may charge a fee for this. This charge is not set by Leeds Building Society but by your Tonbridge property lawyer. Plenty of firms on the Leeds Building Society panel will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but some firms include it on their overall fee.
Can I be sure that the Tonbridge conveyancing solicitor on the Aldermore panel is any good?
When it comes to conveyancing in Tonbridge seeking recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advocate that you speak with the solicitor carrying out your conveyancing.
I had an offer accepted on an apartment in Tonbridge on 18/11/2025, valuation was booked 2 days later, all came back fine. Solicitor instructed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Kent Reliance and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Kent Reliance to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in Tonbridge. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.
Here is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Tonbridge
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Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. Please supply a car parking plan. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal.
Is there anything unique about your site and alternative web based conveyancing brokers when it comes to conveyancing in Tonbridge?
At this site secure a conveyancing costs illustration from a Solicitor or Licensed Conveyancer that has a full understanding of the nuances for your conveyancing in Tonbridge. Unlike many estate agents and many comparison sites we do not have referral arrangements with solicitors. Some agents and online brokers 'recommend' the firm who pay the highest per referral, as opposed to the best value conveyancing in Tonbridge
I am one month into a leasehold purchase having been recommend to solicitors by the high street agent to handle our conveyancing in Tonbridge. We are not happy. Can you help me find new lawyers?
A solicitor would need to be really bad in order to consider diss instructing them. Has the loan offer been sent? In the event that it has you need to make them aware of the new conveyancer and have the offer are issued to the new lawyers. Your conveyancer needs to be on the mortgage company approved list to avoid escalating costs and complications. That should be your first question of the new conveyancers. The find a solicitor tool will assist you in finding a bank approved lawyer for your home move in Tonbridge
I am hoping to exchange soon on a ground floor flat in Tonbridge. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they are sending me a report tomorrow. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?
The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Tonbridge should include some of the following:
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Repair and maintenance of the premises Responsibility to repair and maintain the main walls and foundations. It is important for you to know who is duty bound to repair and maintenance of every part of the building You should receive a copy of the lease What options are open to you if an adjoining owner is in violation of a provision in their lease? Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property and do you know what it means in practice?
I invested in buying a split level flat in Tonbridge, conveyancing was carried out 8 years ago. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Tonbridge with a long lease are worth £201,000. The ground rent is £45 charged once a year. The lease finishes on 21st October 2091
With only 65 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £13,300 and £15,400 plus costs.
The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure without more comprehensive investigations. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward based on this information before getting professional advice.