We are purchasing a purpose built flat in Clayton with a residential mortgage from Lloyds TSB Bank.We use our Clayton conveyancing lawyer but Lloyds TSB Bank advised that she’s not on their "panel". we are left little option but to use a Lloyds TSB Bank panel solicitor or retain our local solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The home loan offered to you is subject to its various provisions, a common one being that lawyers must be on the Lloyds TSB Bank approved list. in the past, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Lloyds TSB Bank
I am assisting my niece sell her house in Clayton. Does the solicitor arrange an energy performance certificate or it is for the owner to see to?
Following the demise of Home Information Packs, EPC’s was retained a compulsory element of moving house. An EPC must be commissioned in advance of the property being advertised. This is not as aspect of the sale process that law firms normally organise. Where you are instructing a Clayton conveyancing practitioner they may be willing to arrange energy assessments due to their contacts with reputable local providers
Is it correct that all Clayton CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the TSB conveyancing list of approved practices?
A selection of lenders now use CQS as the kick off point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to remain on their panels.
My offer was accepted on an apartment in Clayton on 9/5/2025, valuation was booked 2 days after, all came back fine. Conveyancer instructed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Nationwide and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Nationwide to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
I'm buying my first flat in Clayton with a loan from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. The sellers would not move on the price so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The house builders rep advised me not disclose to my conveyancer about the extras as it may jeopardize my loan with Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.
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 CML website. CML 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.
Taking into account that I am about to part with 450k on a property in Clayton I would like to talk to a lawyer about myhome move prior to instructing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?
We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you first talking to the conveyancer who will be doing your property ownership legalities in Clayton.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is unique person, not a file number. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are calculated and presented to you for residential conveyancing in Clayton should be the amount on the final invoice that you end up paying.
Am I best advised to instruct a Clayton conveyancing solicitor based in the area that I am buying? We have a good friend who can handle the conveyancing however they are based 200kilometers drive away.
The benefit of a high street Clayton conveyancing practice is that you can attend the office to execute documents, hand in your identification documents and pester them where appropriate. Having local Clayton know how is a plus. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who used your friend and on the whole were content that should trump using an unfamiliar Clayton conveyancing lawyer just because they are Clayton based.
As a leasehold owner I am liable for a maintenance fee for my ground floor flat in Clayton. As a result of flawed financial planning I fell behind with remittance. I negotiated a payment plan but there is still three grand currently outstanding.
I now wish to sell and I am panicking this could threaten to derail the sale if I have to pay off the amount due in advance. Do I have to settle before - is this viable?
The lawyer dealing with your Clayton sale should be in a position to negotiate with the appropriate parties, and agree with them whether or not they would accept settlement out of the sale proceeds. Here is indicative of why it is sensible to select a conveyancer in Clayton as they may well enjoy an open line of communication with the parties.