My fiance and I are hoping to buy a property in Whitchurch and are in fact using a Whitchurch conveyancing firm. Within the last couple of days our lawyer has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Halifax have this afternoon contacted us to inform me that they have now hit a problem as our Whitchurch conveyancer is not on their conveyancing panel. Is this a problem?
Where you are buying a property requiring a mortgage it is usual for the purchasers' solicitors to also represent the purchaser's lender. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your property lawyer should contact your mortgage company and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own solicitors to act. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the bank's conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own Whitchurch solicitors, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you have another set of people involved.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Whitchurch. My lender is Chelsea Building Society
Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 15/3/2026, the requirements read as follows :
Will commercial conveyancing searches reveal impending roadworks that could affect a commercial property in Whitchurch?
Many commercial conveyancing solicitors in Whitchurch will conduct a SiteSolutions Highways report as it reduces the time that conveyancers expend in researching accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Whitchurch. The report sets out definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Whitchurch.
For every commercial conveyancing transaction in Whitchurch it is crucial to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. The absence of identifying developments where adoption procedures have not been dealt with adequately may cause delays to Whitchurch commercial conveyancing transactions as well as pose a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not ordered for domestic conveyancing in Whitchurch.
I am buying a new build house in Whitchurch benefiting from help to buy. The developers would not reduce the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The estate agent advised me not inform my solicitor about this deal as it will put at risk my loan with the lender. Is this normal?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer 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've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in two weeks back in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. Whitchurch is the location of the property. What do you suggest?
Flying freeholds in Whitchurch are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Whitchurch you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Whitchurch may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.
In my capacity as executor for the estate of my aunt I am selling a residence in Cardiff but live in Whitchurch. My conveyancer (based 260 miles from meneeds me to sign a statutory declaration before the transaction finalising. Could you suggest a conveyancing lawyer in Whitchurch to witness this legal document for me?
Technically speaking you should not need to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally any notary public or qualified solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are Whitchurch based