I am nearing exchange of contracts for my maisonette in Banstead and the EA has just telephoned to advise that the buyers are swapping law firm. The excuse is that the mortgage company will only work with property lawyers on their conveyancing panel. On what basis would a leading mortgage company only deal with specific solicitors rather the firm that they want to appoint to handle their conveyancing in Banstead ?
Banks have always had panels of law firms that can act for them, but in recent years big names such as Nationwide, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have represented them for many years.
Lending institutions point to the increase in fraud by way of justification for the reduction – criteria have been narrowed as a smaller panel is easier to oversee. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is being contacted daily by practices that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your buyers are not going to have any impact on this.
Me and my partner are due to complete buying a house in Banstead but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have was able negotiate compensation from the vendor of £3k by way of a deduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of a side agreement however Kent Reliance will not agree to this. Should they have been informed?
Your lawyer being on a Kent Reliance approved list is required to advise Kent Reliance of any amendments to the purchase price. If you prohibit your lawyer to report the reduction to Kent Reliance then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, Kent Reliance and you would have to appoint a new solicitor for your conveyancing in Banstead.
When can the exchange of contracts take place for purchase conveyancing in Banstead and do I need to be at the lawyers office?
If you are near to one of the conveyancing solicitors in Banstead you are welcome to come in to sign contracts. However, the lender approved solicitors we recommend supply countrywide coverage for conveyancing and provide just as comprehensive and professional a job for you when dealing with you by post or email. The executing of the contract is not the point of no return. A signed contract is necessary for the firm to officially exchange at the suitable time, which is ordinarily shortly after signing. The procedure is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where an extended "chain" is in play, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Banstead)to be in the office at the appropriate time.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Banstead. My lender is Chelsea Building Society
Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 13/12/2025, the requirements read as follows :
I moved into my house on 16 May and my personal details are still not on the land registry website. Need I be worried? My conveyancing solicitor in Banstead said it would be dealt with in less than a month. Are transfers in Banstead particularly slow to register?
There is nothing unique about conveyancing in Banstead registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timescales can differ subject to who lodges the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry need to notify any third persons or bodies. Currently roughly 80% of submission are fully addressed in less than three weeks but occasionally there can be extensive delays. Registration occurs after the purchaser has moved in to the property thus 'speed' is not usually an essential issue but where it is urgent that the the registration takes place urgently then you or your solicitor should speak with the land registry and explain the circumstances.
I only have Sixty One years remaining on my lease in Banstead. I now want to get lease extension but my freeholder is can not be found. What options are available to me?
If you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the Court. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to find the landlord. In some cases a specialist should be helpful to carry out a search and to produce a report to be used as proof that the freeholder can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a solicitor in relation to proving the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court overseeing Banstead.
I have given up trying to purchase the freehold in Banstead. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?
if there is a absentee landlord or where there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant legislation it is possible to make an application to the LVT to assess the price payable.
An example of a Lease Extension case for a Banstead residence is 33 The Maisonettes Alberta Avenue in June 2014. the Tribunal decided that the premium payable for the grant of a new lease be the sum of £20,680 (Twenty Thousand six hundred and eighty pounds). This case related to 1 flat. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 60.43 years.