Forgive me if this question is silly but I am wet behind the ears as a 1st time purchaser of a ground floor flat in Thornbury. Do I receive the keys to the premises on completion from my solicitor? If this is the case, I will find a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Thornbury?

On the day of completion you do not need to attend the conveyancers office in Thornbury. Conveyancing lawyers for you will arrange to send the purchase money to the seller's solicitors, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you will be called to receive the keys from the Estate Agents and start moving into the property. This tends to happen between 1 and 3pm.

About to purchase flat in Thornbury. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Lender if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the RBS conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Thornbury conveyancer is on the RBS conveyancing panel.

I have instructed a Thornbury solicitor having checked that they are on the TSB conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?

TSB will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually TSB will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own Thornbury surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.

How does conveyancing in Thornbury differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Thornbury come to us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is finished. This is because house builders in Thornbury typically acquire 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 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 Thornbury or who has acted in the same development.

Is it possible to switch solicitor as I have to select a firm on the Chelsea Building Society conveyancing panel. I instructed a high street conveyancing solicitor in Thornbury five minutes from me but she is not accepted by Chelsea Building Society

It would be our pleasure to help you find a conveyancing solicitor in Thornbury on the Chelsea Building Society panel. Please note that the law firms that we on the directory do not pay us fee if you instruct them and are under regulation of the SRA who oversee all conveyancing solicitors in Thornbury. In making use of search facility on this website, you can compare and instruct different solicitors and conveyancers both nationally and in Thornbury.

I am intending to let out my leasehold flat in Thornbury. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask him. Do I need to ask my freeholder for permission?

A lease governs relations between the freeholder and you the leaseholder; in particular, it will say if subletting is not allowed, or permitted but only subject to certain caveats. The accepted inference is that if the lease contains no specific ban or restriction, subletting is allowed. Most leases in Thornbury do not contain strict prohibition on subletting – such a provision would undoubtedly devalue the property. Instead, there is usually simply a requirement that the owner notifies the freeholder, possibly sending a duplicate of the sublease.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Thornbury - Examples of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

Best to be warned whether a new roof is being put on or some other major work is anticipated to be shared by the tenants and could well dramatically impact the level of the service costs or require a specific invoice. Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge payments? Does this lease have in excess of 80 years remaining?

We have just discovered that one of the directors of the law firm undertaking the purchase conveyancing in Thornbury is related to the owners that we are buying from. Is this allowed?

On the basis that there is no conflict of interest this should be fine. If you are requiring mortgage finance then the lender may have a say as many lenders have specific instructions on this. For example for Coventry Building Society as of 29/1/2026, the requirements read as follows :