My wife and I are refinancing our flat in Grays with Kent Reliance. We have a son 19 who lives at home. Our solicitor requested us to identify anyone over the age of 17 other than ourselves who lives in the flat. The solicitor has now sent a form for our son to sign, giving up any rights in the event that the property is repossessed. I have a couple of concerns (1) Is this document specific to the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel as he did not need to sign this form when we bought 5 years ago (2) In signing this form is our son in any way compromising his right to inherit the property?
On the face of it your lawyer has done nothing wrong as it is established procedure for any occupier who is aged 17 or over to sign the necessary Consent Form, which is purely to state that any rights he has in the property are postponed and secondary to Kent Reliance. This is solely used to protect Kent Reliance if the property were re-possessed so that in such circumstances, your son would be legally obliged to leave. It does not impact your son’s right to inherit the apartment. Please note that if your son were to inherit and the mortgage in favour of Kent Reliance had not been discharged, he would be liable to take over the loan or pay it off, but other than that, there is nothing stopping him from keeping the property in accordance with your will or the rules of intestacy.
It is is a decade since I purchased my house in Grays. Conveyancing solicitors have just been retained on the sale but I am unable to find my deeds. Is this a major issue?
Don’t worry too much. First the deeds may be with your mortgage company or they may be in the possession of the conveyancers who acted in the purchase. Secondly in most cases the land will be recorded 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 Grays relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your property is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is resolvable.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Grays. My lender is Accord Mortgages
Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 22/9/2025, the requirements read as follows :
Is it necessary to take out insurance to cover chancel repairs when buying a house in Grays?
Unless a prior acquisition of the property completed after 12 October 2013 you may take it that conveyancing practitioners conducting conveyancing in Grays to remain encouraging a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.
Due to the encouragement of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Grays before appointing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. My surveyor advised that some mortgage companies may refuse to issue a loan on this type of property.
It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different requirements for example to Nationwide. Should you wish to call us we can check via the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Grays. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.
How does the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my commercial offices in Grays and how can your lawyers assist?
The 1954 Act affords protection to business tenants, granting the dueness to make a request to court for a renewal tenancy and continue in occupation when the lease reaches an end. There are limited grounds that a landlord can refrain from granting a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing practices who use the act to your advantage and handle your commercial conveyancing in Grays