My wife and I are looking to acquire a flat in Watlington and are in fact using a Watlington conveyancing firm. Within the past 48 hours our conveyancer has forwarded the sale agreement to be signed with a detailed report with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Santander have this evening contacted us to advise us that there is now an issue as our Watlington conveyancer is not on their conveyancing panel. What do we do from here?
Where you are buying a property requiring a mortgage it is conventional for the purchasers' lawyers 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 property lawyer 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 solicitors to act. You don't have to instruct a firm on the lender’s conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred Watlington lawyers, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.
Do all mortgage companies provide you with an approved list of Watlington conveyancing solicitors? How do you know who is on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel?
Watlington conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Bank of Ireland directly.
I am about to put an offer on a leasehold apartment in Watlington. The property agents advise that it is the norm for flats in Watlington to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am expecting a loan with Bank of Ireland. Is this going to be acceptable if the lease has 72 years to go.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 16/7/2025 the requirements read as follows :
My wife and I are buying a property in Watlington. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a conveyancer? On completion day we will need to deposit funds into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our deposit?
Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.
My bid for a property was accepted at auction in Watlington. Conveyancing is necessary. What is next?
Having to all intents and purposes signed on the dotted line you will need to choose a conveyancing practitioner quickly as you now have a fast approaching a drop dead date to complete the property. Every auction property will ordinarily have an associated auction set of papers. This will include most,if not all of the paperwork that your lawyer requires. If you have purchased leasehold property the conveyancing papers may provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing documentation pertinent to leasehold premises. You need to pass this on to the solicitor working for you as soon as possible. Do make sure that you have funds organised to complete the transaction on the set completion date.
Can I be sure that the Watlington conveyancing solicitor on the RBS panel is any good?
When it comes to conveyancing in Watlington seeking recommendations is a good starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always suggest that you speak with the lawyer carrying out your conveyancing.
I decided to have a survey completed on a property in Watlington prior to instructing conveyancers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. My surveyor has said that some lenders tend refuse to give a loan on a flying freehold house.
It varies from the lender to lender. Lloyds has different requirements from Birmingham Midshires. If you e-mail us we can check with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Watlington. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.