The vendors of the home we are hoping to buy have appointed a conveyancing firm in Shoreditch who has recommended a lock out agreement with a payment two thousand pounds. Are such arrangements the norm for Shoreditch conveyancing transactions?

This type of arrangement isn't frequently used in Shoreditch, conveyancers will often sway clients away from them as they detract from focusing on the primary objective, namely conveyancing and if you end up having your deposit forfeited then the solicitor at best left with an upset client and at worst a litigious one. Secondly, there is no guarantee that just because the proprietor has entered into a lock out agreement they will sell to you. They may be in contravention of the agreement if they receive a big enough offer to do so because an aggrieved party with the benefit of a exclusivity agreement will still be legally obliged to show losses as a consequence of the breach and this may not amount to the extra amount that the owner may obtain by reneging on the agreement, no matter how morally shameful that may be.

Completed the sale of my flat in Shoreditch last April but my buyer keeps calling daily complaining that her lawyer needs to hear from mysolicitor. What are the post completion sale legalities now that I have sold?

Post completion of your house sale your conveyancer should deliver the transfer deeds and all supplemental paperwork to the buyer’s lawyers. If applicable, your solicitor should also confirm that the legal charge in favour of the lender has been redeemed to the purchasers lawyers. There are no post completion procedures peculiar conveyancing in Shoreditch.

Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Shoreditch. My lender is Platform

Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 5/12/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Will our solicitor be making enquiries concerning flooding during the conveyancing in Shoreditch.

Flooding is a growing risk for solicitors dealing with homes in Shoreditch. There are those who buy a property in Shoreditch, completely aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical damage, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, satisfactory building insurance, or sell the premises. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not best placed to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous checks that can be undertaken by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which will figure out the risks in Shoreditch. The standard property information forms sent to a purchaser’s conveyancer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) contains a standard question of the owner to determine whether the premises has historically flooded. In the event that the property has been flooded in past and is not revealed by the vendor, then a purchaser could commence a claim for damages as a result of such an misleading answer. A purchaser’s conveyancers may also carry out an enviro search. This should indicate if there is any known flood risk. If so, additional inquiries should be made.

I am buying a new build flat in Shoreditch. Conveyancing is a frightening process 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 Shoreditch

Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. 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. The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore.