I have just started taking steps with the aim of swapping over from my current homeowner home loan to a BTL The Royal Bank of Scotland mortgage. I have been informed by my broker that I must appoint a solicitor as part of the process. I got in contact with my previous Chipping Barnet conveyancing firm who dealt with the legals when I originally bought the premises. The costs estimate sent of £470 is an eye-watering amount to do this as its a refinance than a sale or purchase.
The estimate does seem a tad steep. If you are happy to invest time comparing quotes you might get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by perhaps £100 plus VAT. On the other hand, providing that you were content with the service the firm gave you maycome to regret choosing an an unknown solicitor. Remember to be sure that the firm can act for The Royal Bank of Scotland. Do employ our search tool to find a Chipping Barnet conveyancing firm on the The Royal Bank of Scotland member panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Chipping Barnet.
Our Chipping Barnet conveyancer has uncovered an inconsistency between the assumptions in the valuation survey and what is in the conveyancing documents. My solicitor says that he is duty bound to ensure that the lender is OK with this discrepancy and is content to go ahead. Is my conveyancer’s stance right?
Your conveyancer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
My grandfather passed away last year and as sole heir and executor I was left the property in Chipping Barnet. The house had a small mortgage left on it of around £5k. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Kent Reliance, pay off the mortgage. Is this allowed?
Where you plan to re-mortgage then Kent Reliance will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Kent Reliance conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Kent Reliance mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
I have paid off my mortgage with UBS. I assume I don't need a Chipping Barnet lawyer on the UBS panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your UBS mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the UBS mortgage from the register. UBS, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where UBS has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- UBS has instructed the Land Registry to do so
My offer was accepted on an apartment in Chipping Barnet on 25/3/2026, valuation was booked five days after, received a clean bill of health. Conveyancer retained, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Principality and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Principality conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
A lender would not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Principality to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Principality conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
After what seems like an age I have had an offer on an apartment in Chipping Barnet agreed to, but there is a chain. The vendors have put an offer on a flat, however it’s not been accepted yet, and are looking at other flats in the pipeline. I have selected a high street conveyancing solicitor in Chipping Barnet. What should be my next step? When should I get the mortgage application with Nationwide going?
It is understandable to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx one thousand pounds, then survey, Chipping Barnet conveyancing search charges, etc). First, you should ensure that your property lawyer is on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. Regarding the subsequent steps this very much dictated by the specifics of your case, desire for the property and on the state of the market. In a hot market the majority of home buyers will apply for the mortgage with Nationwide and arrange for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they request their solicitor to press on with the conveyancing in Chipping Barnet.
What can a local search inform me concerning the house my wife and I buying in Chipping Barnet?
Chipping Barnet conveyancing often starts with the submitting local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations for example Xpress Legal The local search plays a central part in most Chipping Barnet conveyancing purchase; that is if you wish to avoid any unpleasant surprises after you move into your new home. The search will reveal information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 subject areas.
What advice can you give us when it comes to appointing a Chipping Barnet conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?
If you are instructing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Chipping Barnet conveyancing practice) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you make enquires with several firms including non Chipping Barnet conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions could be of use:
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Can they put you in touch with clients in Chipping Barnet who can give a testimonial? If they are not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?
After years of negotiations we cannot agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Chipping Barnet. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?
You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Chipping Barnet conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Chipping Barnet flat is Flat 2 2 Netherfield Road in April 2010. The Tribunale held that premium payable for a 90 year extension to the existing Lease should be £7,705. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 76 years.