I can't travel far from Canterbury. What is the rationale as to why all Canterbury lawyers aren't automatically on all bank panels?
As inequitable as it may seem for lenders to limit who can represent them, from the public’s or solicitor’s point of view, the flip side is that lending institutions are increasingly anxious and feel it imperative to protect them from mortgage fraud. As a consequence of this concern mortgage companies are limiting their conveyancing panel to a size that they are happy to control.
We see that you have a post code search directory identifying law firms on the Skipton conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a commission if I instruct them for our own conveyancing in Canterbury?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Skipton conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Canterbury.
My wife and I have arranged a further advance on our home loan from TSB as we intend to carry out a loft conversion to our house in Canterbury. Are we obliged to appoint a bricks and mortar Canterbury solicitor on the TSB conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?
TSB would not normally require firms on their conveyancing panel to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the TSB conveyancing panel.
I am purchasing a property in Canterbury. An unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Yorkshire BS have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As you are obtaining a mortgage with Yorkshire BS your lawyer must check the formal instructions outlined in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Yorkshire BS. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook contains minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and property lawyers are required to report to Yorkshire BS where a lease fails to satisfy these conditions. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not isolated to Canterbury.
My offer was accepted on a property in Canterbury on 29/5/2026, valuation was booked 3 days later, all came back fine. Solicitor appointed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Yorkshire BS and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Yorkshire BS to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Canterbury. 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 conveyancing.
Set out below is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Canterbury
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Please supply a car parking plan. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose?
I opted to have a survey carried out on a house in Canterbury before instructing solicitors. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. My surveyor advised that some banks tend not grant a mortgage on such a home.
It varies from the lender to lender. Lloyds has different requirements for example to Birmingham Midshires. If you contact us we can check via the appropriate mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Canterbury. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Canterbury to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.
As co-executor for the estate of my uncle I am disposing of a property in Neath but reside in Canterbury. My solicitor (who is 200 kilometers from mehas requested that I sign a statutory declaration before the transaction finalising. Could you suggest a conveyancing solicitor in Canterbury who can witness and place their company stamp on the document?
strictly speaking you are unlikely to be required to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally any notary public or solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are based in Canterbury