The owners have rather brash vendors who has suggested a preliminary contract with a deposit 10k. Are such agreements sensible?

Lock out agreements are contracts between a home seller and purchaser granting the buyer the sole right to the sale of the premises for a limited period of time. Essentially, a lock out agreement is a contract specifying that you will have a contract at a later date being the main conveyancing contract. It is generally utilised for buyer confidence though in some cases, the vendor may enjoy an upside from such agreements as well. There are various pros and cons to having them but you need to check with your lawyer but beware that it may end up incurring extra in conveyancing fees. For these reasons these contracts are avoided when it comes to conveyancing in Melbourne.

Have just purchased a repossessed house at auction in Melbourne. Conveyancing is necessary. What is next?

Having for in every practical sense signed on the dotted line you should instruct a conveyancing practitioner as a matter of urgency as you are faced with a tight deadline in which to complete the transaction. All auction property should have an associated auction pack. This will include evidence of title and search results. Where you are dealing with leasehold premises the legal pack should include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing documentation relating to leasehold premises. You should give this to your appointed conveyancing solicitor as soon as possible. Do make sure that you have funds in order to complete on the date specified in the contract.

I have today made my last payment due on my mortgage with Virgin Money. I assume I don't need a Melbourne lawyer on the Virgin Money panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your Virgin Money mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Virgin Money mortgage from the register. Virgin Money, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:

1. but are not moving to another property
2. where Virgin Money has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. Virgin Money has instructed the Land Registry to do so

My offer was accepted on a property in Melbourne on 28/7/2025, valuation was booked 2 days after, received a clean bill of health. Property lawyer appointed, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Nottingham and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Nottingham conveyancing panel. Are Nottingham entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?

A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Nottingham to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Nottingham conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

I have recentlybecome aware that Arc property Solicitors have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Melbourne for a purchase of a leasehold flat 9 months ago. How can I check that my home is in my name in the name of the previous owner?

The quickest method to see if the premises is registered to you, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Melbourne conveyancing specialists.

Taking into account that I will soon part with hundreds of thousands of pounds on 3 bedroom house in Melbourne I wish to talk to a lawyer concerning thehome move before instructing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?

We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you liaising with the conveyancer due to be doing your conveyancing in Melbourne.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is unique individual, not a matter reference. The practices that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are provided with for your conveyancing in Melbourne should be the amount on the final invoice that you end up paying.

How do I establish who owns a property in Melbourne?

Provided the premises is registered with HMLR, and you have enough specifics of the location of the premises, you will be able to see results from the HMLR of the registered proprietor for a a minimal charge.