My friend's dad is a solicitor. I anticipate that I will receive friends and family pricing for conveyancing, but if not, what level of figure should I be paying for conveyancing in Avery Hill?

You should compare pricing. Do use our search tool on this site. Whilst amounts will contrast greatly but the service one can expect differ between solicitors as is the case with most professions.

I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Avery Hill. My lender is The Mortgage Works

The Mortgage Works have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 1/12/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Have just purchased a repossessed house at auction in Avery Hill. Conveyancing is needed. What happens now?

Now that you are legally committed yourself to purchase you should appoint a conveyancing practitioner soon as you are faced with a fast approaching a fixed date to complete the transaction. All auction property will have a bespoke legal set of papers. This will include most,if not all of the paperwork that your solicitor will need. Where you are dealing with leasehold property the auction pack may contain a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing paperwork pertinent to a leasehold property. You need to give this to the lawyer working for you as soon as possible. Do make sure that you have funds organised to complete the transaction on the set completion date.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Avery Hill off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Bank of Ireland. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use 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 Bank of Ireland, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel.

It is not clear whether my lender obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called my Avery Hill building society branch on numerous occasions and was told it does not impact the mortgage offer and they would lend. My Avery Hill conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- called to say that they refuse to lend based on their published requirements. Who do I believe?

As long as the conveyancing practitioner is on the bank panel, they must adhere to the CML Handbook provisions for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender 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 bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

five months have elapsed since my purchase conveyancing in Avery Hill completed. I have checked the Land Registry site which shows that I paid £175,000 when infact I paid £170,000. 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 residence 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.

Our conveyancer in Avery Hill has identified a a legal deficiency with the lease for the flat we are buying in Avery Hill. The seller’s lawyers have put forward title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will cover the costs. Our lawyer has advised that as he is on the lender conveyancing panel he must ensure that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is the bank?

The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and the bank are the client. A precondition to being on the lender approved panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that the lender can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . 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.