My partner and I are planning to buy a house in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth and have appointed a Chorleywood and Rickmansworth 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. Barnsley Building Society have this evening contacted us to inform me that there is now an issue as our Chorleywood and Rickmansworth solicitor is not on their conveyancing panel. Is this a problem?

Where you are buying a property needing a mortgage it is normal for the purchasers' solicitors to also act for 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 Accreditation Scheme. Your solicitor should contact your bank 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 as you are at liberty to use your preferred Chorleywood and Rickmansworth lawyers, in which case your legal fees may increase, 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 when buying a house in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth. My lender is Accord Mortgages

Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 9/9/2025, the requirements read as follows :

When it comes to mortgage companies such as Aldermore, do Chorleywood and Rickmansworth lawyers have to pay an annual charge to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any bank fees to register on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth off the council. I have a mortgage offer with TSB. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with TSB, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the TSB conveyancing panel.

The formalities of my purchase has taken place for my property in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?

All lenders have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. We understand that complaints to a lender are sorted out effectively and efficiently. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.

About to purchase a new build flat in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth. Conveyancing is daunting 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 questions that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth

Please supply evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme.

Hoping to buy a property located in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth and I am already nervous. I couldn't find anything specific about Chorleywood and Rickmansworth. Conveyancing will be needed in due course but do you know about the Chorleywood and Rickmansworth area? or perhaps some other tips you can share?

Rather than looking online forget looking online you should go and have a look at Chorleywood and Rickmansworth. In the meantime here are some basic statistics that we found