Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Cambridgeshire. My lender is Chelsea Building Society

Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 8/8/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Are all Cambridgeshire Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Principality conveyancing panel?

Some major lenders now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to join their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.

I can not fathom if my bank obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called into my local Cambridgeshire bank branch on a couple of occasions and was told it does not affect the mortgage offer and they will lend. My Cambridgeshire conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told they refuse to lend in accordance with their specific requirements. I simply don't know who is right.

The solicitor has to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 provisions for your bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

Intending to buy a flat in Cambridgeshire. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Cambridgeshire conveyancing practitioner is on the Co-operative conveyancing panel.

I used Stirling Law several years ago for my conveyancing in Cambridgeshire. I now require my papers however the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?

Do call 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 Cambridgeshire of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I'm purchasing my first flat in Cambridgeshire benefiting from help to buy. The developers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The sale representative suggested that I not disclose to my lawyer about the side-deal as it could adversely affect my mortgage with Aldermore. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

My husband and I are first time buyers - had an offer accepted, but the estate agent advised that the seller will only go ahead if we use the agent's recommended conveyancers as they are insisting on an ‘expedited deal’. My instinct tells me that we should use a local conveyancer with experience of conveyancing in Cambridgeshire

It is improbable the owners are driving this. If they want ‘a quick sale', alienating a serious buyer is likely to cause more damage than good. Try to communicate with the vendors directly and explain that (a)you are motivated purchasers (b)you are excited to move forward, with finances arranged © you are unencumbered (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)but you will continue to instruct your preferred Cambridgeshire conveyancing solicitors - not the ones that will give their negotiator at the agency a referral fee or hit his conveyancing targets set by head office.