Please help. My Clifton conveyancer is assuring me that he is legally obliged toconduct Clifton conveyancing searches due to the fact thatthe firm are on the Lloydsapproved lawyer panel. Is this really necessary?
Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with a lender your lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the UK Finance Conveyancing Handbook. Your conveyancing practitioner would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your bank’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook conditions . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Clifton conveyancing searches.
I have just over seventy years unexpired on my lease and need a lease extension for my flat in Clifton. Conveyancing solicitors on the Platform panel can deal with such extensions right?
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. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 8/10/2026 the requirements read as follows :
My colleague recommended that where I am buying in Clifton I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?
A search of this type is sometimes quoted for as part of the standard Clifton conveyancing searches. It is not a small document of more than thirty pages, listing and detailing significant information about Clifton around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Clifton Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime details, Clifton Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information concerning Clifton.
I'm buying a new build house in Clifton benefiting from help to buy. The sellers would not budge the price so I negotiated 6k of fixtures and fittings instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not inform my solicitor about the deal as it would adversely affect my loan with Barclays Direct. Should I keep quiet?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the UK Finance website. UK Finance form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on a fortnight ago in what should have been a simple, chain free conveyancing. Clifton is the location of the property. Is there any advice you can give?
Flying freeholds in Clifton are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Clifton you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Clifton may determine 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 residence.
Our financial adviser has suggested using their conveyancer for my conveyancing in Clifton - Is it not simpler advisable to just instruct them?
You need to establish if the estate agent is recommending a conveyancer or introducing to a solicitor. There are plenty of Clifton selling agents who recommend two or three Clifton conveyancing firms purely based on those lawyers offering a great service.