I am nearing exchange of contracts for my home in Hyde Park and the estate agent has just called to warn that the buyers are appointing a new property lawyer. The reason given is that the lender will only work with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. On what basis would a leading lender only work with certain lawyers rather the firm that they want to choose to handle their conveyancing in Hyde Park ?
Banks have always had panels of law firms that can act for them, but in recent years big names such as Lloyds Banking Group, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have represented them for decades.
Lending institutions justify 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 maintain. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms are unaware that they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your buyers are unlikely to have any impact on this.
Our nephew is in the process of securing a new build apartment in Hyde Park with a mortgage from Clydesdale. His lawyer has advised him of a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. What is this document - I have never come across this before?
The form is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the purchase. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the valuer when requested. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Clydesdale conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.
I am about to put a bid on a leasehold flat in Hyde Park. The estate agents say that it is standard for flats in Hyde Park to have less than 75 years left on the lease. I am getting a mortgage with Platform. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 69 years unexpired.
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. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 14/9/2025 the requirements read as follows :
What does commercial conveyancing in Hyde Park cover?
Non domestic conveyancing in Hyde Park incorporates a wide array of advice, offered by regulated solicitors, relating to business premises. By way of example, this type of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more commonly, the assignment of existing business tenancies or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial loans and the termination of leases.
Myself and my wife have recently had an offer accepted on a apartment and had an appointment on Tuesday with the Post Office for the mortgage. They advised me that when it comes to selecting a property lawyer that unless they are on their approved panel of lawyers then we will incur an extra fee of £200. This is is due to the fact that they would then have to appoint a solicitor to act for them in addition to the one we select for ourselves and we are liable for their fees. I have requested the Post Office to supply me with a list so I can request quotes only from their approved conveyancers but was told they dont have such a list to hand over. Is there a list online?
Ask the Post Office what their criteria for panel membership is for a conveyancer.Then ask the lawyer of your choice whether they meet the criteria and have they acted on loans for the Post Office previously. Where the answer to those is yes, then just double check with the Post Office. Alternatively please utilise our search tool and we should be able to locate a property lawyer in Hyde Park on the approved list for the Post Office.