My partner and I are hoping to acquire a house in Childwall and are in fact using a Childwall conveyancing practice. Within the last couple of days our lawyer has forwarded the sale agreement to be signed with a detailed report with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Virgin Money have this afternoon contacted us to inform me that there is now an issue as our Childwall lawyer is not on their conveyancing panel. What do we do from here?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is normal for the purchasers' solicitors to also represent the mortgage company. 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 Quality Scheme. Your property lawyer should contact your mortgage company and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You don't have to instruct a firm on the bank's conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own Childwall solicitors, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.
I have 7378 less than 75 years left on my lease and require a lease extension for my flat in Childwall. Conveyancing solicitors on the Nationwide Building Society panel can deal with such extensions right?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are obtaining a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 20/7/2026 the requirements read as follows :
We are buying a apartment in Childwall. It might be a silly question but how we can trust a solicitor? On the day of competition we will need to put money into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our monies?
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.
A friend advised me that in buying a property in Childwall there may be a number of restrictions limiting what one can do in terms of external alterations to a property. Is this right?
There are anumerous of properties in Childwall which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Childwall should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
Are all Childwall Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel?
A selection of lenders now use the accreditation scheme as the kick off point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their panels.
I have recentlybecome aware that Wolstenholmes have closed. They carried out my conveyancing in Childwall for a purchase of a leasehold apartment 12 months ago. How can I establish that my home is not still registered in the name of the previous owner?
The quickest way to see if the premises is in your name, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Childwall conveyancing specialists.
My husband and I are 14 days into a freehold purchase having been directed to a firm by the selling agent to perform conveyancing in Childwall. We are not happy. Could you help me find new solicitors?
A lawyer would have to be very poor in order to consider replacing them. Has the mortgage been issued? If so you need to inform them of the replacement lawyer and have the loan are issued to the new lawyers. Your new solicitor ideally should be on the mortgage company panel to avoid escalating expenses and frustration. That should be your starting point. Our find a solicitor tool will assist you in finding a lender approved lawyer for your home move in Childwall
I am buying a flat mortgage free. My lawyer has been handed with two separate proof of photographic identification, bank statement, multiple utility bills. Now he wants a copy from a probate lawyer stating that the funds are in place and that it has come from inheritance and not dealing E's in Ibiza.
In today’s world you will not be able to complete any Childwall conveyancing transaction without first providing evidence of your identity to your lawyers. This usually takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence and a utility bill. Remember if you are providing your driving licence as evidence of ID it must be both the paper part and photo card part, one is not acceptable without the other. Establishing of your source of funds is required under Money Laundering Regulations.