I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Holborn. My lender is Virgin
Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 6/6/2025, the requirements read as follows :
I am purchasing a property in Holborn. One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. RBS have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As you are obtaining a mortgage with RBS your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing requirements outlined in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for RBS. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook stipulates minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and property lawyers are required to report to RBS where a lease does not comply with these conditions. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not isolated to Holborn.
I'm in the process of looking at apartments in Holborn and I am about to put in an offer. Is it sensible to have a lawyer on ‘stand by’? I will be getting a mortgage with RBS.
It would be prudent to instigate your search sooner rather than later. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their contact information on to the selling agent. Given that you are seeking a mortgage with RBS, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the RBS conveyancing panel.
UBS have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on a apartment in Holborn has been agreed to, now what?
Your estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure the conveyancers are on the lender’s panel). Call up UBS or your financial adviser and complete any outstanding forms. UBS will sellect a valuer who will get in contact with the selling agent or vendor to schedule a time for the valuation to take place. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes approximately ten days to get a mortgage offer. UBS will send the offer to you and your property lawyers. The legal work will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing in Holborn.
My colleague recommended that where I am buying in Holborn I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?
A search of this type is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Holborn conveyancing searches. It is a large document of about 40 pages, listing and setting out significant information about Holborn around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Local Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information concerning Holborn.
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up as part of conveyancing in Holborn?
Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Holborn. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
How does conveyancing in Holborn differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Holborn approach us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is constructed. This is because builders in Holborn usually acquire the real estate, 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 property lawyers 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 Holborn or who has acted in the same development.
I was recommended by a number of selling agents in Holborn to select a property lawyer using your seach tool. Is there a financial incentive for Estate Agents to promote your site over alternative conveyancing organisations?
We don’t give any commission for pointing buyers and sellers in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult a fee as a client could think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.