Me and my partner are acquiring our first home. The conveyancer has e-mailedto check if we wish to take out additional conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's relevant for conveyancing in Crossness
The number and type of Crossness conveyancing searches should be dictated entirely on the property, the location, the possibility of any of these risks, your familiarity of the locality and risks, your overall attitude to risk. What is important is that you properly comprehend what information each search could give you. Then you can decide if you personally think you need that information. Should you be unsure, ask your solicitor to provide guidance.
When it comes to lenders such as Virgin Money, do Crossness conveyancing practitioners have to pay an annual charge to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are unaware of any lender fees to register on their list of approved firms, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.
I can not fathom if my lender obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have telephoned my Crossness building society branch on various occasions and was advised it wasn't an issue and they will lend. My Crossness conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called and was told they will not lend in accordance with their published requirements. I have no idea who is right.
Provided that the lawyer is on the bank panel, they must comply with the CML Handbook requirements for the bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender 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 lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.
I had an offer accepted on an apartment in Crossness on 19/12/2025, valuation was booked five days after, received a clean bill of health. Solicitor retained, 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. Can the lender hold off the offer?
A lender would not issue an offer 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.
I am close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our house in Crossness and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being built on contaminated land. Any local lawyer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the buyers used a nationwide conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Crossness. Having lived in Crossness for six years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to get in touch with our local Authority to seek clarification need.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You must check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same sickness)
How does conveyancing in Crossness differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build property in Crossness contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is ready to move into. This is because new home sellers in Crossness usually acquire the land, 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 Crossness or who has acted in the same development.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £235,500 and found one close by in Crossness I like with amenity areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 51 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Crossness suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a lease with such few years left?
If you require a mortgage that many years will likely be problematic. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for at least twenty four months you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.