My wife and I are purchasing a 1 bedroom flat in Great Baddow with a mortgage. We like our Great Baddow conveyancer, but the lender advise he's not on their "panel". It seems we have little option but to use one of the mortgage company panel solicitors or continue with our Great Baddow conveyancing practitioner and pay for one of their panel lawyers to act for them. This feels very unfair; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, 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 Great Baddow conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Great Baddow. My lender is Chelsea Building Society
Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 17/5/2026, the requirements read as follows :
I have been on the look out for a flat up to £195,000 and found one round the corner in Great Baddow I like with amenity areas and railway links nearby, the downside is that it's only got 51 years on the lease. There is not much else in Great Baddow in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?
If you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will be problematic. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the premises for at least 2 years you may ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.
My business partner and I are wishing to lease a unit on the high street. Can you recommend lawyers offering fixed fees for commercial conveyancing in Great Baddow for under 2k?
We are happy to recommend firms who have specialist knowledge of commercial conveyancing in Great Baddow, including the sale and purchase of businesses as well as simply property. Whether you are intending to buy or lease a shop, pub, restaurant, office, retail unit or a whole business we will find you the right solicitor. Regarding the costs these will vary based on the structure and complexity of the proposed transaction. Let us have your details or call so as to enable us to supply you with comprehensive commercial conveyancing calculation.
Back In 2006, I bought a leasehold flat in Great Baddow. Conveyancing and Accord Mortgages Ltd mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1992. The conveyancing practitioner in Great Baddow who acted for me is not around. Do I pay?
The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to instruct a Great Baddow conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for a few pound. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.
I am the registered owner of a 1 bedroom flat in Great Baddow, conveyancing was carried out 3 years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Comparable flats in Great Baddow with an extended lease are worth £222,000. The ground rent is £50 charged once a year. The lease runs out on 21st October 2096
With 70 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.
The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to advice on the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.
My lawyers in Great Baddow have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. At the time of my purchase I took out a mortgage with the mortgage company. Is it case that being on the lender conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?
Different lenders have different requirements but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the bank Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting the mortgage company directly.