Recently been in touch with my conveyancing lawyer in Fenstanton who conducted the legals 18 months ago and wanted a conveyancing estimate based on the same type of home move (a leasehold property and a freehold property) of almost identical values with a home loan from Virgin Money. I am now being charged double. Am I right to be tempted to shop around for an alternative property lawyer?
The quote is fractionally on the expensive side. Where you are willing to invest time comparing costs you may be able to decrease the fees slightly by as much as a hundred pounds. That being said, providing that you were happy with the legal work the firm gave you mightlive to regret opting for an a cheaper solicitor. Don't forget to ensure the firm can represent Virgin Money. Do employ our search tool to locate a Fenstanton conveyancing firm on the Virgin Money member panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Fenstanton.
As a FTB what is the most important advice you can give me concerning purchase conveyancing in Fenstanton?
Not many law firms or advisers will tell you this but conveyancing in Fenstanton or throughout England and Wales is an adversarial process. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there is lots of room for conflict between you and others involved in the home moving process. E.g., the vendor, property agent and even potentially the mortgage company. Selecting a lawyer for your conveyancing in Fenstanton an important selection as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONLY person in the transaction whose interest is to act in your best interests and to protect you.
There is a distinct creep of a "blame" culture- someone has to be blamed for the process being so protracted. We recommend that you must always trust your conveyancer ahead of all other players in the conveyancing process.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Fenstanton. My lender is Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 5/9/2025, the requirements read as follows :
I have todaybeen informed that Stirling Law have closed. They carried out my conveyancing in Fenstanton for a purchase of a leasehold flat 18 months ago. How can I establish that my home is not still registered in the name of the former proprietor?
The quickest way to check if the property is registered to you, you can carry out 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 Fenstanton conveyancing specialists.
How do I use the search facility to locate a conveyancing solicitor in Fenstanton on the authorised to act for my lender?
Step one is to choose a lender such as Accord Mortgages Ltd, Bank of Scotland or Nottingham Building Society then choose your preferred area e.g. Fenstanton. Conveyancing organisations in Fenstanton and nationally will then be shown.
Last April I purchased a leasehold property in Fenstanton. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?
In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
Leasehold Conveyancing in Fenstanton - Examples of Queries before Purchasing
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What prohibitions exist in the Fenstanton Lease? You should want to find out as much as you can about the company managing the block as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you are often in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to practical matters like the tidiness of the communal areas. Enquire of other people what they think of them. On a final note, find out the dates that the service charges are due to the appropriate party and specifically what you get for your money.