I am obtaining a offer of a home loan from Nat West. I hope to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer in Bedfordshire. Does the Nat West Conveyancing panel allow for conveyancers regulated by the CLC?

The Nat West approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

We have rather pushy sellers who has recommended a preliminary contract with a down payment of 5k. Is it wise to enter into such agreements?

Exclusivity contracts are contracts binding a home seller and purchaser granting the buyer a ‘clear field’ to the sale of the premises for a certain period of time. Essentially, a lock out is a document specifying that you will have a contract at a later date being the contract for the actual sale. It is generally used for buyer protection though in some cases, the seller may enjoy an upside from such agreements as well. There are many pros and cons to having them but you should to check with your solicitor but beware that it may result in costing you extra in conveyancing fees. In light of these reasons these agreements are not popular when it comes to conveyancing in Bedfordshire.

How do I use the search app to select a conveyancing practitioner in Bedfordshire on the approved list for my bank?

First select a mortgage company such as , or then choose your location such as Bedfordshire. Conveyancing practices in Bedfordshire and beyond should be identified.

Bedfordshire Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should consider before buying

Many Bedfordshire leasehold properties will have a service bill for maintenance of the building set by the management company. Where you purchase the flat you will have to pay this amount, usually periodically accross the year. This can be anything from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large common grounds. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge to be met annual, ordinarily this is not a large sum, say about £25-£75 but you should to check it because sometimes it can be prohibitively expensive. If a Bedfordshire lease has no more than eighty years it will have adverse implications on the salability of the flat. Check with your lender that they are content with the length of the lease. Leases with fewer than 80 years remaining means that you will most likely need a lease extension sooner rather than later and you need to have some idea of what this would cost. For most Bedfordshirelease extensions you would need to own the residence for a couple of years before you are eligible to extend the lease. It would be prudent to discover as much as you can concerning the company managing the building as they will either make your living at the property much easier or problematic. As the owner of a leasehold property you are often in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to every day matters like the upkeep of the communal areas. Don't be afraid to ask prospective neighbours whether they are happy with their management. Finally, be sure you know the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the appropriate party and precisely what it includes.

Me and my fiance have just had an offer agreed on a house and had an appointment on Tuesday with HSBC for the mortgage. They warned us that when it comes to appointing a that unless they are on their approved list of then we will incur a further charge of £200. This is because they will then have to instruct a solicitor to act on their behalf in addition to the one we appoint on our behalf and we are liable for their costs. I have requested HSBC to supply me with a list so I can seek quotes only from their approved solicitors but was told that I need to check with each individual lawyer to see if they are on the panel. Is their an easier way of going about this?

You can enquire of HSBC what their panel criteria is for a solicitor.Thereafter ask the of your choice whether they meet the criteria and have they acted on mortgages for HSBC before. If the answer to those is yes, then just double check with HSBC. Alternatively please utilise our search facility and we should be able to find you a in Bedfordshire on the approved list for HSBC.