Our conveyancer has discovered a defect with the lease for the flat we are purchasing in Haxby. The other side have suggested title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will cover the costs. Our property lawyer has advised that he must check that the bank is content with this solution. Who is the client here, us or the mortgage company ?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the risk of a conflict of interest, you and the bank 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 mortgage company 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 property lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Haxby. My lender is Platform
Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 14/4/2026, the requirements read as follows :
I am purchasing a house and the lawyer has raised the issue of Chancel Repair for which the property could be liable given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. He has suggested insurance. Is this really appropriate for conveyancing in Haxby
Unless a prior acquisition of the property took place after 12 October 2013 you can expect solicitors conducting conveyancing in Haxby to remain recommending a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.
How does conveyancing in Haxby differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Haxby approach us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is finished. This is because new home sellers in Haxby tend to acquire the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Haxby or who has acted in the same development.
Due to the encouragement of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Haxby in advance of retaining conveyancers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. My surveyor has said that some banks may not grant a loan on such a house.
It depends who your proposed lender is. HSBC has different instructions from Birmingham Midshires. Should you wish to call us we can investigate further with the appropriate mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Haxby. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Haxby to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.
My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Haxby. Conveyancing and Leeds Building Society mortgage organised. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the freehold. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing practitioner in Haxby who previously acted has now retired. Do I pay?
The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. You do not need to incur the fees of a Haxby conveyancing practitioner to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.
I inherited a ground floor flat in Haxby, conveyancing was carried out in 2006. How much will my lease extension cost? Similar flats in Haxby with over 90 years remaining are worth £207,000. The ground rent is £60 invoiced annually. The lease runs out on 21st October 2083
You have 57 years unexpired we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £28,500 and £33,000 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.
The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more detailed investigations. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information without first getting professional advice.