My wife and I are buying a property in St James's. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a lawyer? At some point we have to send funds into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our deposit?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

How can we tell if a St James's conveyancing solicitor on the Virgin Money panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in St James's seeking recommendations is a sensible start. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one advertising the lowest fees. We would always advocate that you speak with the solicitor handling your conveyancing.

I had an offer accepted on an apartment in St James's on 16/6/2025, valuation was booked 2 days after, all came back fine. Solicitor appointed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Lloyds and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Lloyds conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?

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

2 months have gone by following my purchase conveyancing in St James's concluded. I have checked the Land Registry website which shows that I paid £150,000 when infact I paid £180,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the premises from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

I am buying a new build flat in St James's. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here are examples of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in St James's

If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. Please supply a car parking plan. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease.

I need to retain a conveyancing solicitor for purchase conveyancing in St James's. I have stumble across a web site which appears to be the perfect solution If it is possible to get all formalities done via web that would be preferable. Should I be concerned? What should out be looking out for?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

My sister completed her conveyancing in St James's in 2007. She has got married, widowed and in recent months got married again. She wishes to sell the property next autumn. I suspect that she will just be need to supply copies of her marriage papers to the conveyancing practitioner however she is worried it will hold up the house sale. Is it worth updating the land title details for the house?

The is no need to bring up to date the title for the property on the basis that you have the proof required to demonstrate how the name change has come about.

The buyer’s solicitor will review the registered details and ask for evidence by way of proof of the change of name for instance marriage certificates.