I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Woking. My lender is Nationwide Building Society

Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 5/10/2025, the requirements read as follows :

How does conveyancing in Woking differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Woking come to us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is constructed. This is because builders in Woking typically acquire the real estate, 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 property lawyers 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Woking or who has acted in the same development.

Do I need to be suspicious about brokers that I am dealing with are recommending an online conveyancing firm rather than a High Street Woking conveyancing practice?

As with lots of service providers, often recommendations from family and friends can be most helpful. Yet there are many players in a conveyancing transaction; estate agents, mortgage brokers and banks may suggest conveyancers to appoint. On occasion the solicitors might be known to one of the organisations as experts in their field, but sometimes there is an underlying financial incentive behind the endorsement. You are free to select your preferred lawyer. However, bear in mind that the majority of lenders operate an approved list of solicitors you are obliged to use for the mortgage aspect of your transaction.

My husband and I are a fortnight into a freehold purchase having been referred to conveyancers by the estate agent to carry out the conveyancing in Woking. We are not happy. Can you help me find new solicitors?

A lawyer would need to be very bad to suggest replacing them. Has the mortgage offer been generated? If so you need to make them aware of the new contact details and ensure the mortgage documents are issued to the new lawyers. Your conveyancer needs to be on the banks approved list to avoid supplemental charges and delays. That should be your first question of the new conveyancers. The find a solicitor tool will assist you in finding a bank approved conveyancer for your conveyancing in Woking

My fiance and I may need to rent out our Woking garden flat temporarily due to a new job. We used a Woking conveyancing practice in 2004 but they have closed and we did not think at the time get any advice as to whether the lease prohibits the subletting of the flat. How do we find out?

A small minority of properties in Woking do contain a provision to say that subletting is only allowed with permission. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse but, in such cases, they would need to see references. Experience suggests that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting permission.

Woking Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Queries before Purchasing

Can you inform me if there are any major works on the horizon that could add a premium to the service fees? The majority of Woking leasehold flats will have a service bill for maintenance of the building levied by the freeholder. Where you buy the flat you will have to pay this contribution, usually periodically throughout the year. This can be anything from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for bigger purpose-built blocks. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge to be met annual, this is usually not a large amount, say about £50-£100 but you should to enquire it because on occasion it could be many hundreds of pounds.