I am considering applying for a TSB mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) in Forestdale with 65 per cent LTV. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for TSB ?
There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor, but TSB will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is much more potential for delays and confusion with an additional lawyer added to the mix, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.
My aunt advised me that in buying a property in Forestdale there could be a number of restrictions as to what one can do in terms of external changes to the property. Is this right?
We are aware of a number of properties in Forestdale which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Forestdale should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
When it comes to lenders such as HSBC, do Forestdale conveyancers face a yearly amount to be on the list of approved solicitors?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their panel, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
My offer was accepted on a property in Forestdale on 19/8/2025, valuation was booked 3 days later, received a clean bill of health. Conveyancer instructed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Barclays and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Barclays conveyancing panel. Are Barclays 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 Barclays to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Barclays conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Forestdale?
Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Forestdale. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
Should I instruct a Forestdale conveyancing lawyer based in the area that I am purchasing? We have a good friend who can perform the conveyancing but her office is a couple of hundredkilometers away.
The benefit of a high street Forestdale conveyancing practice is that you can visit the firm to sign documents, hand in your ID and pester them where appropriate. Having local Forestdale know how is a bonus. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If other friends have used your friend and on the whole were impressed that must trump using an unknown Forestdale conveyancing solicitor just because they are round the corner.
My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Forestdale. Conveyancing and Platform Home Loans Ltd mortgage organised. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the freehold. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1996. The conveyancing practitioner in Forestdale who previously acted has now retired. Any advice?
The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is indeed the new freeholder. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a Forestdale conveyancing lawyer to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.
Having spent years of negotiations we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Forestdale. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?
if there is a missing freeholder or if there is dispute about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to assess the price payable.
An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Forestdale property is The Woodlands 95 Purley Park Road in April 2009. The Tribunals own valuation produced the figure of £37,912. This case affected 6 flats. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 78.32 years.