My wife and I are buying a 1 bedroom apartment in North Acton with a mortgage. We like our North Acton conveyancer, however the lender advise he's not on their "panel". It seems we have no choice but to use one of the bank panel firms or keep our North Acton solicitor and pay for one of their panel firms to represent them. We feel that this is unjust; is there anything we can do?

No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your North Acton conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.

We are buying our first home. The property lawyer has messagedto ask if we wish to purchase extra conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's recommended for conveyancing in North Acton

The range of North Acton conveyancing searches depends primarily on the premises, the location, the possibility of any of these risks, your familiarity of the area and risks, your general attitude to risk. What matters is that you properly understand what information each search could give you. You may then decide if you consider that you need that search. Should you be in doubt, ask your conveyancer to recommend.

It is is a decade since I purchased my property in North Acton. Conveyancing lawyers have now been appointed on the sale but I am unable to track down the title deeds. Will this cause complications?

You need not be too concerned. First the deeds may be kept by your mortgage company or they may be in the possession of the lawyers who oversaw your purchase. Secondly in most cases the property will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing lawyers obtaining up to date copy of the land registers. Almost all conveyancing in North Acton involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is not insurmountable.

My brother has recommend that I appoint his lawyers for conveyancing in North Acton. Should I choose my own property lawyer?

There are no two ways about it the ideal way to find a conveyancing practitioner is to have recommendations from friends or family who have actually experience in using the firm that you are contemplating using.

I today discovered that one of the directors of the law firm undertaking the purchase conveyancing in North Acton is an aunty of the vendor. Is this allowed?

On the basis that no conflict arises this is allowable. Where you are needing mortgage finance then the bank may have a say as many lenders have specific instructions concerning this. For example for RBS- First Active as of 30/11/2025, the requirements read as follows :