My St Helier conveyancer has discovered an inconsistency when comparing the surveyor’s assumptions in the home valuation report and what is in the conveyancing documents. My solicitor says that he must check that the lender is OK with this discrepancy and is content to go ahead. Is my conveyancer’s course or action legitimate?
Your conveyancer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions 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.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in St Helier. My lender is Accord Mortgages
Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 8/1/2026, the requirements read as follows :
My father pointed out to me me that in buying a property in St Helier there may be a number of restrictions limiting what one can do in terms of external changes to the property. Is this right?
We are aware of a number of properties in St Helier which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to perform external alterations. Part of the conveyancing in St Helier should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
Two weeks ago we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Virgin Money. St Helier conveyancing solicitors were selected. How long does it take for Virgin Money to send the offer to the conveyancer?
There is no definitive answer here. Have Virgin Money conducted the valuation? Have you informed Virgin Money as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel? Sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued.
Having read lots of mortgage guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local St Helier solicitor - who is on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?
Clydesdale will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Clydesdale will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own St Helier surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.
I used Stirling Law a few years ago for my conveyancing in St Helier. I now require my file however cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should 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 St Helier 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 St Helier differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in St Helier approach us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is ready to move into. This is because developers in St Helier tend to buy the land, 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 used to new build conveyancing in St Helier or who has acted in the same development.