I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Alford. My lender is Chelsea Building Society

Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 21/9/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £235,500 and found one round the corner in Alford I like with amenity areas and station in the vicinity, however it only has 51 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Alford for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?

Should you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be problematic. Discount the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you can ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.

Is it possible to change firm as I need to find one who is on the Nottingham Building Society conveyancing list. I instructed a family conveyancing solicitor in Alford round the corner but the firm is not accepted by Nottingham Building Society

It would be our pleasure to assist you find a conveyancing solicitor in Alford on the Nottingham Building Society panel. Please note that the law firms that we on the directory do not pay us commission if you instruct them and are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority who regulate all conveyancing solicitors in Alford. In utilising search facility on this site, you can compare and instruct different solicitors and conveyancers both nationally and in Alford.

My father has recommend that I appoint his lawyers for conveyancing in Alford. Do I follow his guidance?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Alford conveyancing lawyer the best way to select a conveyancing practitioner is to get guidance from friends or relatives who have used the firm that you are considering.

I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the mortgage company conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the lender approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?

Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the bank conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the lender solicitor panel.