I am getting a offer of a home loan from Halifax. I intend to enlist the help of a Licensed Conveyancer in Friern Barnet. Does the Halifax Conveyancing panel exclude conveyancers regulated by the CLC?
The Halifax conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.
Our conveyancer has uncovered a a problem with the lease for the apartment we are buying in Friern Barnet. The seller’s lawyers have offered defective title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will cover the costs. Our property lawyer says that he must check that the bank is content with this solution. Are we the client or is the bank?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and the bank are the client. Your lawyer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects with the lease so that the mortgage company can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.
I am the registered owner of a freehold property in Friern Barnet yet charged rent, why is this and what is this?
It is rare for properties in Friern Barnet and has limited impact for conveyancing in Friern Barnet but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.
Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.
Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be dispensed with completely.
About to place a bid on a leasehold property in Friern Barnet. The estate agents assure me that it is usual for flats in Friern Barnet to have less than 75 years remaining. I am expecting a mortgage with Bank of Ireland. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 72 years to go.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 15/2/2026 the requirements read as follows :
Forgive me if this question is silly but I am wet behind the ears as FTB of a two bedroom flat in Friern Barnet. Do I receive the keys to the premises on completion from my solicitor? If this is the case, I will use a local conveyancing solicitor in Friern Barnet?
On the day of completion you do not need to go to the conveyancers office in Friern Barnet. Your solicitors will transfer the completion advance to the vendor’s conveyancers, and once they have received this, you will be able to receive the keys from the selling Agents and move into your new home. Usually this occurs between 1 and 3pm.
I'm in the throws of looking at houses in Friern Barnet and I am now considering a potential offer. Is it premature to have a solicitor in place? I am planning to take a home loan with TSB.
You should start requesting conveyancing estimates from solicitors ASAP. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on to the selling agent. As you are seeking a mortgage with TSB, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the TSB conveyancing panel.
The mortgage over my property is with RBS for my property in Friern Barnet. Conveyancing was finalised a year ago. Should I wish 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 RBS?
RBS must be informed of your intention prior to renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of RBS’s mortgage conditions. It may be that RBS 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 RBS directly. You need not do this via a RBS conveyancing panel firm.