I have given 8 weeks notice to my current landlord and have to leave my rented flat in Caterham by the end of next month. Conveyancing on my purchase has just started. How realistic is it to complete in a couple of weeks as don't want to have to move into temporary accommodation?

The normal practice is not to serve notice on a rental unless your lawyer suggests that you should. Assuming that you have not previously done so, speak to your conveyancer and request that they seek the assistance the sellers solicitors, try to an agreed time frame that all parties will look to achieve

I am about to put a bid on a leasehold property in Caterham. The property agents advise that it is the norm for flats in Caterham to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am obtaining a mortgage with Tesco Bank. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 70 years to go.

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. Tesco Bank have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 13/1/2026 the requirements read as follows :

I'm the sole recipient of my late mum's will and I have everything in my name now, including the my former home in Caterham. Conveyancing formalities meant that the Land Registry date was in December. I now wish to sell up. I do know about the CML six month 'rule', meaning my proprietorship will be considered the same way as though I had purchased the property in December. Is the property unsalable for six months?

The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ handbook instructs conveyancers to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." Technically you may be impacted by that. many mortgage companies would take a practical view as this clause chiefly exists to identify subsales or the quick reselling of property.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Caterham. One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Clydesdale have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?

As you are obtaining a mortgage with Clydesdale your lawyer must check the conveyancing requirements contained in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Clydesdale. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancers are required to report to Clydesdale where a lease does not comply with these conditions. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not isolated to Caterham.

I currently have a mortgage with Santander for my property in Caterham. Conveyancing has been completed 12 months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Santander?

Santander must be informed of your intention prior to letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Santander’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Santander will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Santander directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Santander conveyancing panel firm.

Should my conveyancer be raising questions about flooding as part of the conveyancing in Caterham.

Flooding is a growing risk for solicitors dealing with homes in Caterham. Plenty of people will buy a house in Caterham, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical damage, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or sell the premises. Steps can be carried out during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not best placed to impart advice on flood risk, however there are a number of checks that may be carried out by the purchaser or by their lawyers which will figure out the risks in Caterham. The conventional set of property information forms given to a purchaser’s conveyancer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) contains a usual inquiry of the seller to discover if the property has historically flooded. In the event that the property has been flooded in past and is not disclosed by the vendor, then a buyer could issue a legal claim for losses as a result of such an inaccurate answer. A purchaser’s solicitors should also conduct an enviro report. This will reveal if there is any known flood risk. If so, additional inquiries should be initiated.

How does conveyancing in Caterham differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build residence in Caterham approach us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is finished. This is because developers in Caterham typically buy the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Caterham or who has acted in the same development.