I am obtaining a offer of a home loan from Halifax. I intend to use a Licensed Conveyancer in Clapton. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel exclude conveyancers regulated by the CLC?

The Halifax conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, associated to the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

My fiancee and I are purchasing our first house. The property lawyer has calledto check if we wish to order additional conveyancing searches. Unfortunately we are clueless as to what's necessary for conveyancing in Clapton

The scope of Clapton conveyancing searches should be triggered based entirely on the property, the location, the possibility of any of these risks, your familiarity of the locality and risks, your general approach to risk. What is important is that you properly comprehend what information the searches could provide. You may then decide if you consider that you need that search. Should you be in doubt, ask the lawyer to advise.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Clapton. I have a mortgage agreed with Principality. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Principality, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Principality conveyancing panel.

I currently have a mortgage with Yorkshire BS for my property in Clapton. Conveyancing has been completed a year ago. In the event that I decide to rent out my property and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Yorkshire BS?

Your original mortgage agreement with Yorkshire BS will provide that you need their approval in advance of letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Yorkshire BS’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Yorkshire BS 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 Yorkshire BS directly. You need not do this via a Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel solicitor.

My offer was accepted on a property in Clapton on 12/11/2025, valuation was booked 2 days after, all came back fine. Conveyancer instructed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Principality and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Principality conveyancing panel. Are Principality entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?

Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Principality to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Principality conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

We are buying a property and the conveyancer has referenced Chancel Repair to which the house could be obligated to pay given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. He has suggested insurance. Is this strictly appropriate for conveyancing in Clapton

Unless a previous acquisition of the property took place post 12 October 2013 you can assume that lawyers delivering conveyancing in Clapton to remain recommending a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

My father has suggested that I use his lawyers for conveyancing in Clapton. Should I use them?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Clapton conveyancing lawyer the ideal way to choose a conveyancing lawyer is to have recommendations from friends or relatives who have actually previously instructed the solicitor you're considering.