I am in the process of selling my house in Wolverton and the estate agent has just called to warn that the buyers are changing their property lawyer. I am told that this is due to the fact that the mortgage company will only deal with property lawyers on their approved list. Why would a big named mortgage company only work with specific solicitors rather the firm that they want to choose for their conveyancing in Wolverton ?
Mortgage companies have always had an approved set of law firms that can represent them, but in the last few years big names such as HSBC, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for decades.
Lending institutions attribute this action to a rise in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been stiffened as a smaller panel is easier to monitor. Banks tend not to reveal how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms 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. Your purchasers are not going to have any sway in the decision.
I have 70 years remaining on my lease and require a lease extension for my flat in Wolverton. Conveyancing solicitors on the Bank of Ireland panel can deal with such extensions correct?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are obtaining a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 28/8/2025 the requirements read as follows :
My bid for a property was accepted at auction in Wolverton. Conveyancing is necessary. What happens now?
Given that you have now to in every practical sense signed on the dotted line you must hire the services of a conveyancing solicitor as a matter of urgency as you are facing a tight a drop dead date to complete the transaction. All auction property will have a corresponding legal set of papers. This will include most,if not all of the documents that your lawyer will need. Where you are dealing with leasehold premises the conveyancing pack should provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing paperwork pertinent to a leasehold property. You should hand this to your appointed conveyancing solicitor as soon as possible. Do make sure that your finances are in place to complete on the on the contractual date .
When it comes to lenders such as Yorkshire BS, do Wolverton property lawyers face an annual charge to be on the list of approved solicitors?
We are not aware of any bank fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
I've digested plenty of house buying guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Wolverton solicitor - who is on the Nottingham conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
Nottingham will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Nottingham 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. You may wish to consider appointing your own Wolverton surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.
I used Stirling Law several years past for my conveyancing in Wolverton. I now require my papers however cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate 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 Wolverton of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
In scouring the internet for the term cheap conveyancing in Wolverton it brings up numerous solicitorsin the area. How do I determine which is the suitable conveyancing solicitor for my move?
The preferential method of finding the right conveyancer is through a personal testimonial, so enquire of colleagues and family who have purchased a property in Wolverton or a local estate agent or financial adviser. Fees for conveyancing in Wolverton differ, so it's sensible to request at least three fee calculations from varying types of conveyancers. Make sure that you clarify that the fees are fixed.
Why is New Build conveyancing in Wolverton more expensive?
Conveyancing in Wolverton for recently converted or new build homes often involve adoption of highways & drains, building regulations approval, planning permission, new build warranties such NHBC as well as further investigations and contractual concerns.