I am acquiring a ground floor flat in Malden. My Conveyancer is not listed on the bank solicitor panel. Is it possible for me to use my Malden conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the bank panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?

You must use a solicitor to deal with the formalities when you take out a loan to buy your home. The conveyancing practitioner will conduct all the essential due diligence on the property, make sure that you’re registered as proprietor and ensure that all the required mortgage documentation is dealt with. You may instruct a Malden property lawyer of your choosing. Nevertheless, if the conveyancing practitioner selected is not a member of the lender approved list supplemental costs will be incurred as separate legal representation will be required by them. Lender panel applications may be submitted, so provided your lawyer has not previously applied for membership they should take the chance to apply.

Is it necessary to pay for insurance to protect me from financial exposure to chancel repairs when buying a house in Malden?

Unless a previous acquisition of the house took place post 12 October 2013 you can take it that lawyers handling conveyancing in Malden to continue to recommend a chancel search and or chancel repair liability insurance.

I used Stirling Law a few years ago for my conveyancing in Malden. I now require my papers but the law firm has closed. What do I do?

Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Malden of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

How does conveyancing in Malden differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Malden contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is finished. This is because new home sellers in Malden tend to purchase the site, 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 conveyancers 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Malden or who has acted in the same development.

At last I have had an offer on an maisonette in Malden agreed to, the owner does however have a dependent purchase. The sellers have submitted an offer on a flat, however it’s not yet tied up, and has viewings of other properties booked. I have selected a local conveyancing solicitor in Malden. What do I do now? When do I get the mortgage application with Nationwide going with Nationwide?

It is normal to have anxieties where there is an associated chain given your reluctance to be too out of pocket prematurely (home loan application is in the region of £1k, then survey, Malden conveyancing search charges, etc). The first course of action is to check that your conveyancing practitioner is on the Nationwide approved list. Regarding the next phase this very much dictated by the circumstances of your case, desire for this property and on the state of the market. During a rising market the majority of purchasers will apply for the mortgage with Nationwide and arrange for the survey and only if it comes back ok would they pay their solicitor to move forward with the conveyancing in Malden.