My wife and I are hoping to purchase a flat in Lyme Regis and are in fact using a Lyme Regis conveyancing practice. Within the last couple of days our property lawyer has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Skipton Building Society have this afternoon contacted us to inform me that they have now hit a problem as our Lyme Regis conveyancer is not on their conveyancing panel. Is this a problem?
When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is conventional for the purchasers' lawyers to also act for the purchaser's lender. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your solicitor should contact your bank and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You don't have to instruct a firm on the lender’s conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own Lyme Regis solicitors, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you have another set of people involved.
My partner and I are only a couple days away from an exchange on a flat in Lyme Regis and my parents have sent the 10% deposit to my conveyancing practitioner. I am now informed that as the deposit has not come from me my property lawyer needs to disclose this to my lender. I am advised that, in also acting for the bank he must advise them that the balance of the purchase price is not just from me. I informed the lender regarding my parents' contribution when I applied for the mortgage, so is it really necessary for him to raise this?
The conveyancer is obliged to clarify with lender to ensure that they understand that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own resources. Your solicitor can only reveal this to your mortgage company if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
I have just over seventy years unexpired on my lease and need a lease extension for my apartment in Lyme Regis. Conveyancing solicitors on the The Mortgage Works panel can deal with such extensions correct?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are obtaining a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. The Mortgage Works have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 30/7/2026 the requirements read as follows :
Will our lawyer be asking questions about flooding during the conveyancing in Lyme Regis.
Flooding is a growing risk for solicitors dealing with homes in Lyme Regis. There are those who buy a house in Lyme Regis, completely aware that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, leaving to one side the physical destruction, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or dispose of the premises. There are steps that can be taken during the course of a property purchase to forewarn the purchaser.
Solicitors are not best placed to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous searches that can be initiated by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which will figure out the risks in Lyme Regis. The conventional set of information given to a purchaser’s lawyer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) contains a usual inquiry of the owner to discover if the property has historically flooded. If flooding has previously occurred and is not notified by the vendor, then a purchaser could bring a compensation claim as a result of such an inaccurate reply. The purchaser’s solicitors may also commission an environmental report. This should indicate if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries should be made.
I am 3 weeks into a freehold purchase having been referred to solicitors by the estate agent to handle our conveyancing in Lyme Regis. I am am starting to be dissatisfied with the level of service. Could you you assist me in finding new conveyancers?
A lawyer would have to be very poor in order to consider replacing them. Has the loan offer been sent? In the event that it has you will need to make them aware of the new solicitor and have the mortgage documents are re-sent. Your conveyancer needs to be on the lenders panel to avoid supplemental expenses and delays. That should be your first question of the new conveyancers. Our search tool can assist you in finding a lender approved solicitor for your home move in Lyme Regis
Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my garden flat in Lyme Regis. Conveyancing is yet to be initiated, but I have recently had a yearly maintenance charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?
Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should pay the invoice as usual because all ground rent and service invoices will be allotted on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.
Lyme Regis Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Queries Prior to buying
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Best to be warned whether window replacement or some other significant cost is pending that will be shared by the tenants and will materially impact the level of the service costs or result in a one off payment. Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge payments? Does this lease have more than 80 years remaining?