I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Derbyshire. My lender is The Mortgage Works

The Mortgage Works have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 16/8/2025, the requirements read as follows :

I have paid off my mortgage with Kent Reliance. I assume I don't need a Derbyshire conveyancer on the Kent Reliance panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your Kent Reliance mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Kent Reliance mortgage from the register. Kent Reliance, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:

1. but are not moving to another property
2. where Kent Reliance has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. Kent Reliance has instructed the Land Registry to do so

I have instructed a Derbyshire property lawyer having checked that they are on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?

Aldermore will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Aldermore will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own Derbyshire surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.

Virgin Money have agreed my home loan in principle, my bid on a house in Derbyshire has been accepted, what happens next?

The property agent will need to know who your solicitors are (ensure that the conveyancers are on the lender’s panel). Telephone Virgin Money or the broker and finish off any outstanding paperwork. Virgin Money will instruct a valuer who will get in contact with the estate agent or seller to arrange an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about ten days to receive the mortgage offer. Virgin Money will issue the offer to you and your conveyancing practitioners. The legal work will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing in Derbyshire.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what was supposed to be a quick, no chain conveyancing. Derbyshire is the location of the property. Is there any advice you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Derbyshire are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Derbyshire you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Derbyshire may determine 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 property.

We expect to complete the sale of our £300,000 garden flat in Derbyshire next Monday. The managing agents has quoted £360 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and previous years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a flat conveyance in Derbyshire?

Derbyshire conveyancing on leasehold flats usually involves the buyer’s lawyer submitting questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to answer such questions the majority will be content to assist. They are at liberty to charge a reasonable charge for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average fee for the paperwork that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some situations it exceeds £800. The administration charge required by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of entitlements and obligations in respect of administration fees, without which the invoice is technically not due. In reality one has little choice but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to exchange contracts with the buyer.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Derbyshire - A selection of Queries Prior to Purchasing

The best form of lease structure is if the freehold title is owned by the leaseholders. In this arrangement the leaseholders benefit from being in charge if their destiny and notwithstanding that a managing agent is frequently employed where the building is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. What prohibitions are there in the Derbyshire Lease? Who takes charge for maintaining and repairing the block?

My offer on house in Derbyshire was accepted, but there is a chain. The current proprietors have offered on on an apartment, however it’s not been accepted yet, and has viewings of other flats in the pipeline. I have instructed a local conveyancing lawyer in Derbyshire. What should be my next step? At what stage should I apply for the mortgage with Co-operative?

It is normal to have concerns where there is an associated chain given your reluctance to incur costs too early (home loan application is in the region of £1k, then survey, Derbyshire conveyancing search charges, etc). The first thing to do is check that your lawyer is on the Co-operative approved list. Regarding the subsequent steps this very much dictated by the uniqueness of your case, desire for the property and on the state of the market. In a buoyant market the majority of purchasers would apply for the mortgage with Co-operative and pay for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they request their property lawyer to proceed with searches.