We were just about to exchange contracts for a semi detached house in Whissendine. We encountered a stumbling block. The loan offer with Bank of Ireland runs out on 10/10/2025 but the vendors are insisting on a completion date of 14/10/2025. Can one prolong the loan offer?

The person best placed to address this concern is your solicitors who should calculate whether they better off negotiating with the mortgage broker, vendor’s solicitors, property agents or possibly all three given the circumstances your conveyancing as of today.

Is it correct that all Whissendine CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the TSB conveyancing panel?

Some major banks and building societies now utilise CQS as the kick off point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of firms.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Whissendine. I have a mortgage agreed with Virgin Money. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Virgin Money, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel.

At last I have had an offer on a flat in Whissendine agreed to, but there is a chain. The owners have placed an offer on a flat, however it’s not yet tied up, and are looking at other properties booked. I have instructed a nearby conveyancing solicitor in Whissendine. What should be my next step? At what stage do I apply for the mortgage with Barclays?

It is understandable to have anxieties where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to incur expenses too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then valuation, Whissendine conveyancing search charges, etc). The first thing to do is check that your solicitor is on the Barclays approved list. As to the subsequent phase this very much depends on the circumstances of your case, attraction to this property and on the state of the market. In a hot market many home buyers will apply for the mortgage with Barclays and pay for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they pay their solicitor to press on with searches.

I used Stirling Law a few years ago for my conveyancing in Whissendine. I now require my file but the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?

Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down 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 Whissendine of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Whissendine. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Here is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Whissendine

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. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier?

My husband and I are FTB’s - agreed a price, but the estate agent told us that the seller will only go ahead if we appoint their recommended conveyancers as they need an ‘expedited deal’. We would rather use a high street conveyancer accustomed to conveyancing in Whissendine

We suspect that the seller is unaware of this request. If they desire ‘a quick sale', alienating a genuine purchaser is likely to cause more damage than good. Avoid the agents and go straight to the owners and make sure they understand (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to progress, with finances in place © you have nothing to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)however you will continue to instruct your preferred Whissendine conveyancing firm - as opposed tothe ones that will give the estate agent a commission or hit his conveyancing thresholds demanded by head office.