My conveyancer has uncovered a a problem with the lease for the apartment we are buying in North Shields and Tynemouth. The other side have put forward title insurance as a solution. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our lawyer has advised that he must be satisfied that the lender is content with this solution. Who is the client here, us or the lender?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the risk of a conflict of interest, you and the lender are the client. Your lawyer 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 bank 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 conveyancer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I am about to put an offer on a leasehold property in North Shields and Tynemouth. The selling agents advise that it is standard for flats in North Shields and Tynemouth to have less than 75 years left on the lease. I am getting a mortgage with Virgin. Is this going to be acceptable if the lease has 72 years remaining.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 10/6/2026 the requirements read as follows :
I can see plenty of here about conveyancing in North Shields and Tynemouth but can you isolate your top tip for finding the right conveyancer in North Shields and Tynemouth
It would be unwise to be tempted by the lowest North Shields and Tynemouth conveyancing quote. You really do get what you’re paying for when it comes to conveyancing solicitors. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you know exactly what you’ll have to pay in ahead of time.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in North Shields and Tynemouth. I have a mortgage offer with Skipton. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Skipton, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Skipton conveyancing panel.
After what seems like an age I have had an offer on a maisonette in North Shields and Tynemouth accepted, the vendors do nevertheless have an associated purchase. The owners have put an offer on on an apartment, however it’s not been accepted yet, and are looking at other properties in the pipeline. I have chosen a local conveyancing solicitor in North Shields and Tynemouth. What should be my next step? When should I get the mortgage application with TSB going?
It is usual to have anxieties where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to incur costs too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then valuation, North Shields and Tynemouth conveyancing search costs, etc). The first thing to do is check that your solicitor is on the TSB conveyancing panel. Concerning the next phase this very much depends on the uniqueness of your case, attraction to the property and on the state of the market. In a buoyant market the majority of home buyers would apply for a home loan with TSB and pay for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they ask their property lawyer to press on with searches.
I used Arc property Solicitors several years ago for my conveyancing in North Shields and Tynemouth. I now require my file but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in North Shields and Tynemouth of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on last month in what was supposed to be a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. North Shields and Tynemouth is where the house is located. Is there any guidance you can give?
Flying freeholds in North Shields and Tynemouth are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside North Shields and Tynemouth you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in North Shields and Tynemouth may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.
Is it best to choose a North Shields and Tynemouth conveyancing lawyer who is local to the property I am purchasing? We have a good friend who can handle the legal work but his firm is located approximately 350miles away.
The primary upside of using a local North Shields and Tynemouth conveyancing practice is that you can drop in to execute paperwork, hand in your ID and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local insight which is a benefit. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If you know people who used your friend and on the whole were impressed that should outweigh using an unfamiliar North Shields and Tynemouth conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being based in the area.