I am in the process of selling my apartment in Chesham Bois and the EA has just text me to say that the buyers are swapping conveyancer. I am told that this is due to the fact that the bank will only engage with solicitors on their approved list. Why would a leading lender only work with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to appoint for their conveyancing in Chesham Bois ?

Mortgage companies have always had panels of law firms they are content to work with, but in the last few years big names such as Santander, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have represented them for over 25 years.

Lenders blame a rise in fraud by way of justification for the reduction – criteria have been stiffened as a smaller panel is easier to oversee. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. The purchasers are not going to have any impact on this.

It is is a decade since I acquired my home in Chesham Bois. Conveyancing solicitors have now been instructed on the sale but I am unable to track down my title documents. Will this cause complications?

Don’t worry too much. Firstly the deeds may be retained by your mortgage company or they may be in the possession of the lawyers who handled the purchase. Secondly in all probability the land will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you own the property by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring current official copies of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Chesham Bois relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your property is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is resolvable.

Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Chesham Bois. My lender is The Mortgage Works

The Mortgage Works have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 28/11/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Should my conveyancer be raising questions regarding flooding during the conveyancing in Chesham Bois.

Flooding is a growing risk for solicitors carrying out conveyancing in Chesham Bois. There are those who buy a house in Chesham Bois, completely aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical damage, where a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, suitable insurance cover, or sell the property. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not best placed to give advice on flood risk, but there are a various checks that may be initiated by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better appreciation of the risks in Chesham Bois. The standard information sent to a purchaser’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a usual question of the seller to determine whether the property has suffered from flooding. If flooding has previously occurred which is not notified by the owner, then a buyer could issue a compensation claim as a result of such an inaccurate response. A buyer’s lawyers may also commission an enviro search. This should reveal whether there is any known flood risk. If so, additional inquiries should be conducted.

I have recentlyfound out that Arc property Solicitors have been shut down. They conducted my conveyancing in Chesham Bois for a purchase of a freehold house 12 months ago. How can I check that my home is in my name in the name of the previous owner?

The easiest method to check if the premises is registered to you, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Chesham Bois conveyancing specialists.