At what point can the exchange of contracts take place for sale conveyancing in Woodside Park and do I need to be at the lawyers office?
Where you are round the corner to one of the conveyancing solicitors in Woodside Park you are invited in to sign contracts. That being said, the law practices we work with provide a national conveyancing service and give as equally detailed and professional a job for you when communicating with you by post or email. The signing of the purchase agreement is not the point of no return. Signing on the dotted line is just a prerequisite for the firm to address the formalities at the suitable time, which is ordinarily shortly after signing. The exchange process is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where an extended "chain" is involved, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Woodside Park)to be in the office at the appropriate time.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Woodside Park. My lender is Tesco Bank
Tesco Bank have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 29/9/2025, the requirements read as follows :
Is it the case that all Woodside Park CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the UBS conveyancing list of approved firms?
A selection of lenders now utilise CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to join their panels.
I have today made my last payment due on my mortgage with RBS. I assume I don't need a Woodside Park conveyancer on the RBS panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.
If you have finished paying off your RBS 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 RBS mortgage from the register. RBS, 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:
- but are not moving to another property
- where RBS has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- RBS has instructed the Land Registry to do so
It is not clear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension. I have called my Woodside Park building society branch on various occasions and was informed it wasn't a problem and they will lend. My Woodside Park conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called to say that they will not lend in accordance with their specific requirements. Who do I believe?
As long as the conveyancing practitioner is on the bank panel, she or he must follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook conditions for the bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
How does conveyancing in Woodside Park differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Woodside Park approach us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is constructed. This is because house builders in Woodside Park tend to purchase 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 conveyancers 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 Woodside Park or who has acted in the same development.
My step-father has encouraged me to instruct his conveyancing solicitors in Woodside Park. Do I follow his advice?
No doubt it’s preferable to choose a conveyancing practitioner is to have referrals from friends or family who have actually previously instructed the conveyancer you're contemplating using.