I am six weeks into the sale of my ground floor flat in Ravenshead and the estate agent has just text me to warn that the purchasers are switching property lawyer. The reason given is that the lender will only work with solicitors on their approved list. Why would a big named mortgage company only engage with specific law firms rather the firm that they want to appoint to handle their conveyancing in Ravenshead ?

Lenders have always had an approved set of law firms that can act for them, but in the past few years big names such as Nationwide, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for more than 15 years.

Lenders point to the increase 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. Plenty of firms 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. Your buyers are not going to have any impact on this.

I have 7378 less than 75 years remaining on my lease and need a lease extension for my apartment in Ravenshead. Conveyancing solicitors on the Chelsea Building Society panel can deal with such extensions right?

Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 27/11/2025 the requirements read as follows :

We are intent on selling our home in Ravenshead and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. Any local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers are using a web based conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Ravenshead. We have lived in Ravenshead for six years we know that this is a non issue. Should we contact our local Authority to obtain confirmation need.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer already. What do they say? You need to enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same sickness)

I used Action Conveyancing a few years past for my conveyancing in Ravenshead. Now, I need my documents however cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Ravenshead of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

Is it possible to switch solicitor as I have to choose a firm on the Platform Home Loans Ltd conveyancing panel. I was using a high street conveyancing solicitor in Ravenshead round the corner but she is not approved by Platform Home Loans Ltd

We will our best to assist in finding you a conveyancing solicitor in Ravenshead on the Platform Home Loans Ltd 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 regulate all conveyancing solicitors in Ravenshead. In making use of the find a conveyancing solicitor tool on this site, you can compare fees for conveyancing solicitors in Ravenshead and beyond.