Our solicitor has uncovered a defect with the lease for the flat we are purchasing in Fenstanton. The other side have offered defective title insurance as a solution. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our property lawyer has advised that he must be satisfied that the lender is content with this solution. Are we the client or is the lender?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and the lender are the client. Your conveyancing practitioner must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects with the lease so that the lender can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your solicitor will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
It is a dozen years since I purchased my home in Fenstanton. Conveyancing solicitors have now been retained on the sale but I am unable to find the title deeds. Is this a major issue?
Don’t worry too much. Firstly there is a possibility that the deeds will be with your lender or they may be in the possession of the solicitor who oversaw the purchase. Secondly the chances are that the title will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to prove you own the property by your conveyancing lawyers obtaining current official copies of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Fenstanton relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your home is not registered it is more problematic but is resolvable.
Are all Fenstanton Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Co-operative conveyancing list of approved practices?
Some major lenders now use CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.
I had an offer accepted on a property in Fenstanton on 23/6/2026, valuation was booked 4 days later, all came back fine. Conveyancer appointed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Co-operative and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. Are Co-operative entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Co-operative to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
I have instructed a Fenstanton conveyancing practitioner having checked that they are on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?
Co-operative will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Co-operative will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your property lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Fenstanton postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Co-operative, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Fenstanton.
What can a local search tell me about the property my wife and I purchasing in Fenstanton?
Fenstanton conveyancing often commences with the ordering local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations such as PSG The local search plays an important part in many a Fenstanton conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any unpleasant surprises after you move into your property. The search should reveal information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant 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 thirteen subject headings.
I used Wolstenholmes a few years past for my conveyancing in Fenstanton. Now, I need the documents however the law firm has closed. What do I do?
You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Fenstanton of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
In surfing the internet for the term on line conveyancing in Fenstanton it reveals many conveyancersin the vicinity. How do I determine which is the suitable conveyancer for purchase transaction?
The best method of seeking the right conveyancer is via personal testimonial, so enquire of colleagues and family who have bought a property in Fenstanton or the reputable estate agent or mortgage broker. Charges for conveyancing in Fenstanton differ, so it's advisable to secure a minimum of four fee calculations from different conveyancers. Dont forget to clarify what costs in the quote includes.