Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Longthorpe. My lender is Virgin

Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 16/7/2025, the requirements read as follows :

It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension. I have telephoned my Longthorpe building society branch on various occasions and was reassured it wasn't a problem and they would lend. My Longthorpe conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- telephoned to say that they refuse to lend in accordance with their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?

Provided that the conveyancing practitioner is on the lender panel, she or he must adhere to the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook requirements for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

I've digested plenty of mortgage guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Longthorpe solicitor - who is on the Aldermore conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?

Aldermore will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Aldermore 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. Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Longthorpe postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Aldermore, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Longthorpe.

Our offer on a house in Longthorpe has been agreed to, but there is a chain. The owners have put an offer on on an apartment, but it’s not been accepted yet, and have viewings of other flats in the pipeline. I have selected a bricks and mortar conveyancing solicitor in Longthorpe. What should be my next step? When do I get the mortgage application with Leeds Building Society started?

It is usual to have apprehensions where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is in the region of £1k, then survey, Longthorpe conveyancing search fees, etc). First, you must ensure that your solicitor is on the Leeds Building Society approved list. As to the next steps this very much dictated by the uniqueness of your transaction, desire for this property and on the state of the market. During a rising market the majority of home buyers will apply for a home loan with Leeds Building Society and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they request their conveyancer to move forward with searches.

I am buying a house and the solicitor has referenced Chancel Repair for which the house could be liable given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. He has mentioned insurance. Is this really appropriate for conveyancing in Longthorpe

Unless a prior purchase of the house completed after 12 October 2013 you can assume that conveyancing practitioners conducting conveyancing in Longthorpe to continue to propose a a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Longthorpe is the location of the property. Can you offer any opinion?

Flying freeholds in Longthorpe are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Longthorpe you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Longthorpe may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.

Are Longthorpe conveyancing solicitors duty bound by the Law Society to issue transparent conveyancing figures?

Contained within the Solicitors Code of Conduct are prescriptive rules and regulations as to how the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) allow solicitors to publicise their charges to clients.The Law Society have a practice note giving advice on how to publicise transparent charges to avoid breaching any such rule. Practice notes are not legal advice issued by the Law Society and is not to be regarded as the only standard of good practice a conveyancing solicitor should adhere to. The Practice Note does, nevertheless, constitute the Law Society’s view of acceptable practice for publicising conveyancing charges, and accordingly it’s a recommended read for any solicitor or conveyancer in Longthorpe or across England and Wales.