My partner and I are hoping to purchase a property in Charterhouse and are in fact using a Charterhouse conveyancing firm. Within the past 48 hours our property lawyer has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Britannia have this afternoon contacted us to advise us that there is now an issue as our Charterhouse lawyer is not on their approved list of lawyers. Is this a problem?

When purchasing a property with mortgage finance it is standard for the purchasers' solicitors to also represent the mortgage company. 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 Accreditation 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 lawyers to represent them. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the bank's conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own Charterhouse solicitors, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.

Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Charterhouse. My lender is Tesco Bank

Tesco Bank have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 2/12/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Given that I will soon part with over three hundred thousand on a terraced house in Charterhouse I wish to talk to a lawyer regarding thetransaction ahead of appointing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?

This is something that we encourage - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the solicitor who will be conducting your conveyancing in Charterhouse.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique person, not a matter reference. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are provided with for residential conveyancing in Charterhouse should be the amount on the final invoice that you are charged.

What advice can you give us when it comes to finding a Charterhouse conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Charterhouse conveyancing practice) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you talk with two or three firms including non Charterhouse conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions could be helpful:

If they are not ALEP accredited then why not? What are the charges for lease extension conveyancing?

I am the registered owner of a first floor flat in Charterhouse. In the absence of agreement between myself and the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the sum due for a lease extension?

in cases where there is a absentee landlord or if there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the LVT to determine the price.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Charterhouse property is Flat 89 Trinity Court Grays Inn Road in February 2013. the Tribunal found that the premium to be paid by the tenant on the grant of a new lease, in accordance with section 56 and Schedule 13 to the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 should be £36,229. This case related to 1 flat. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 66.8 years.

Me and myhusband and I are are seeking to find a quality conveyancing lawyer in Charterhouse to buy a home. I I am concerned about being overcharged but with lots of Charterhouse conveyancing organisations to pick from...who do I opt for?

To get quotes for your move via conveyancing firms that offers services in Charterhouse please make the most of our quote tool.