Me and my fiance are purchasing a 3 bedroom apartment in March with a mortgage. We would like to retain our March lawyer, however the bank says she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the bank panel conveyancing practices or retain our March conveyancer and pay for one of their panel firms to act for them. We consider that this is inequitable; can we not require that the lender use our March lawyer ?

Unfortunately,no. Your mortgage offer is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your March conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.

All was ready to complete my purchase in March next Tuesday. My solicitor now wants me to supply her with evidence of content and building insurance for the property as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the mortgage company. What does the insurance need to cover?

All property lawyers on acting for mortgage companies would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions. These obligations are not limited to conveyancing in March.

I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in March. My lender is Chelsea Building Society

Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 25/8/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed flat in March. Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon, but I have recently had a quarterly maintenance charge invoice – what should I do?

The sensible thing to do is discharge the invoice as you normally would as all rents and service charges should be apportioned as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you will be reimbursed by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

March Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should consider before buying

If a March lease has less than eighty years it will impact the value of the property. It is worth checking with your bank that they are willing to go ahead with the loan given the lease term. A short lease means that you will almost definitely have to extend the lease sooner rather than later and it is worth discovering what this will be. For most Marchlease extensions you will be be obliged to have been the owner of the premises for 24 months in order to be eligible to extend the lease. Who are the managing agents? Plenty March leasehold flats will incur a service bill for the upkeep of the building invoiced on behalf of the freeholder. Where you acquire the property you will have to pay this charge, normally periodically throughout the year. This may differ from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large communal areas. In all probability there will be a rentcharge for you to pay annual, ordinarily this is not a significant sum, say approximately £50-£100 but you need to check it because occasionally it can be surprisingly expensive.

We are hoping to buy a four bedroom first floor flatin March with a home loan from a bank. We wish to instruct our lawyer in March but our lender inform us now that he's not listed on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to instruct from the our bank panel solicitors or keep our March solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent our lender. This seems very unfair; Can we not simply insist that our mortgage company use our March lawyer?

Unfortunately,no. The bank mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the mortgage company's conveyancing panel. Until recently, most banks had large numbers of law firms on their panels, including many conveyancing solicitors in March : a mortgagee could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for your lender.