We are about to exchange contracts for a leasehold flat in Burnham. We encountered a problem. Our loan offer with Clydesdale runs out on 20/4/2026 but the owners are insisting on a completion date of 22/4/2026. Can one extend the loan offer?

The person best placed to address this concern is your lawyer who will hopefully determine whether they corresponding with the bank, seller’s representatives, selling agents or indeed all parties given the history of your conveyancing as of today.

When it comes to lenders such as Barclays, do Burnham conveyancing practitioners incur a yearly amount to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are unaware of any mortgage company fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.

Is there a list of Barclays panel conveyancers in Burnham on the Council of Mortgage Lender’s Website?

Unfortunately not yet. There is no such facility on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. A small selection of mortgage companies make their panel listings available on the web. If you are seeking to appoint a Burnham lawyer on the Barclays please use our facility.

We had selected conveyancing lawyers located in Burnham on the Barclays solicitor approved list. They have just billed me a further fee for dealing with the Barclays mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Barclays?

As unfair as it may appear, as long as it’s in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your lawyer can charge a fee for this. The charge is not dictated by Barclays but by your Burnham lawyer. Numerous firms on the Barclays panel will levy ’dealing with mortgage’ fee and others do not.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a quick, no chain conveyancing. Burnham is where the house is located. Is there any advice you can give?

Flying freeholds in Burnham are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Burnham you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Burnham may ascertain 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 residence.

My husband and I are first time buyers - agreed a price, yet the agent informed us that the vendor will only issue a contract if we use the agent's chosen conveyancers as they want a ‘quick sale’. My instinct tells me that we should use a high street solicitor used to conveyancing in Burnham

We suspect that the owner is not behind this request. Should the seller require ‘a quick sale', alienating a serious purchaser is likely to cause more damage than good. Speak to the vendors direct and make the point that (a)you are serious buyers (b)you are excited to move forward, with mortgage lined up © you are chain free (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you will continue to appoint your preferred Burnham conveyancing firm - as opposed tothose that will earn the negotiator at the agency a kickback or achieve conveyancing figures demanded by head office.

The estate agent has suggested using their conveyancing practitioner for our conveyancing in Burnham - won’t it be advisable to just instruct them?

This is not necessarily the case and you are at liberty to opt for whichever solicitor you prefer for your Burnham home move. The solicitor put forward by a 3rd party adviser may not necessarily be the best solicitor, they may recommend their own conveyancing firm who are based remotely. In this instance you may not have contact with your property lawyer and due to the lack of continuity in the transaction, it may be difficult to obtain progress reports.