A relative advised me that if I am buying in Westminster I should ask my conveyancer to carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?
A search of this type is usually included in the estimate for your Westminster conveyancing searches. It is a large report of about 40 pages, listing and detailing important information about Westminster around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Westminster Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime details, Westminster Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data concerning Westminster.
Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Westminster ahead of instructing lawyers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. Our surveyor advised that some lenders may refuse to give a loan on this type of home.
It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Halifax. Should you wish to call us we can check with the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Westminster. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Westminster to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.
How simple is it to switch solicitor as I have to find a firm on the Godiva Mortgages Ltd conveyancing list. I instructed a family conveyancing solicitor in Westminster five minutes from me but she is not accepted by Godiva Mortgages Ltd
We will our best to assist in finding you a conveyancing solicitor in Westminster on the Godiva Mortgages Ltd panel. Please note that the conveyancers that we work with do not pay us fee if you instruct them and are registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority who regulate all conveyancing solicitors in Westminster. Using search facility on this website, you can contrast fees for conveyancing solicitors in Westminster and throughout England and Wales.
I am looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Westminster for my purchase. Is it possible to check a firm’s complaints history with the legal regulator?
Members of the public can review documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions stemming from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For details about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors history, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For non-uk callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator sometimes recorded call for training purposes.
My partner and I yesterday become aware that one of the directors of the conveyancing practice undertaking the purchase conveyancing in Westminster is is the mother of the vendor. Is this acceptable?
Provided no conflict arises this is permitted. Where you are needing mortgage finance then the lender may have a say as many mortgage companies have specific instructions on this. For example for Virgin as of 8/9/2025, the requirements read as follows :