Our Leicestershire lawyer has discovered a difference between the surveyor’s assumptions in the valuation survey and what is in the conveyancing documents. My lawyer says that he needs to ensure that the lender is OK with this discrepancy and is content to go ahead. Is my conveyancer’s approach correct?
Your property lawyer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. 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 about to put a bid on a leasehold flat in Leicestershire. The estate agents advise that it is standard for flats in Leicestershire to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am getting a mortgage with Platform. Is this going to be acceptable if the lease has 70 years left.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are obtaining a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 25/8/2025 the requirements read as follows :
Given that I am about to part with £400,000 on 3 bedroom house in Leicestershire I wish to have a conversation with the solicitor concerning thetransaction ahead of giving the go ahead to the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?
Absolutely - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the solicitor due to be carrying out your conveyancing in Leicestershire.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique individual, not a case number. The solicitors that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are quoted for your conveyancing in Leicestershire should be the amount on the final invoice that you are charged.
Am I best advised to appoint a Leicestershire conveyancing lawyer who is local to the property I am purchasing? An old friend can execute the legal work but they are based 400miles drive away.
The benefit of a local Leicestershire conveyancing practice is that you can drop in to sign documents, present your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local insight which is a benefit. That being said it's more important to get someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If you know people who used your friend and on the whole were happy that must trump using an unknown Leicestershire conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being Leicestershire based.
Are Leicestershire conveyancing solicitors duty bound by the Law Society to issue transparent conveyancing figures?
Contained within the Solicitors Code of Conduct are prescriptive rules and regulations as to how the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) allow solicitors to publicise their fees to clients.The Law Society have practice note giving advice on how to publicise transparent charges to avoid breaching any such rule. Practice notes are not legal advice issued by the Law Society and is not to be interpreted as the only standard of good practice a conveyancing solicitor should adhere to. The Practice Note does, nevertheless, represent the Law Society’s view of acceptable practice for publicising conveyancing charges, and accordingly it’s a recommended read for any solicitor or conveyancer in Leicestershire or beyond.