We are buying a purpose built apartment in Bognor Regis with a loan from Godiva Mortgages Ltd.We would like to retain our Bognor Regis conveyancing solicitor but Godiva Mortgages Ltd says his firm is not listed on their "panel". we are left little option but to use a Godiva Mortgages Ltd panel solicitor or retain our local solicitor and fork out for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; Can we not simply insist that Godiva Mortgages Ltd use our lawyer?

No, not really. The home loan issued to you contains various provisions, a common one being that conveyancers needs to be on the Godiva Mortgages Ltd solicitor panel. Until recently, most mortgage companies had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Godiva Mortgages Ltd

I used Wolstenholmes a few years past for my conveyancing in Bognor Regis. Now, I need the files but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

Do 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 Bognor Regis of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Bognor Regis. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Bognor Regis

The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme.

I am downsizing from my property. My past conveyancers has retired. It would be helpful to have a recommendation of a conveyancing firm. I happen to live in Bognor Regis if that affects matters.

Please use our search tool to help you find a solicitor for your conveyancing in Bognor Regis. We have connected thousands of home buyers and sellers with lender approved solicitors to ensure that the legalities of their house move goes smoothly.

My wife and I are purchasing a studio flat in Bognor Regis. At the time of instructing our lawyer, they said that they were on all major UK mortgage company panels. Our mortgage broker emailed just now to say that they don't seem to be on the UBS approved list. Should that be true, what should we do? Should we just pick a different solicitor that is on their panel or do we pay for dual representation, with UBS appointing their own preferred conveyancer.

When acquiring a property with mortgage finance it is normal for the buyer’s solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender. In order to act for a bank or building society a conveyancing practitioner has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the lawyer to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict conditions which the conveyancing practitioner has to meet. Some building societies now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Accreditation Scheme. Your solicitor should contact UBS to discover 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 UBS's conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own Bognor Regis solicitors, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you are adding another property lawyer into the mix.