Can you help? My West Ham conveyancer is assuring me that he has toapply for West Ham conveyancing searches asthe firm are on the Virgin Moneyapproved lawyer panel. These West Ham checks cost a lot of money can this be avoided?
You have limited options available to you. Given that you are taking out a loan with a lender your property lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your lender’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to comply with the CML Handbook requirements . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out West Ham conveyancing searches.
It is a dozen years since I bought my home in West Ham. Conveyancing lawyers have just been instructed on the sale but I am unable to find my title deeds. Will this cause complications?
You need not be too concerned. First there is a possibility that the deeds will be with your lender or they may be in the possession of the lawyers who handled your purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the land will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring current official copies of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in West Ham relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is not insurmountable.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in West Ham. My lender is Accord Mortgages
Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 20/1/2026, the requirements read as follows :
Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £305k and found one close by in West Ham I like with amenity areas and railway links in the vicinity, however it's only got 49 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in West Ham for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?
If you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be an issue. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you may ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor concerning this.
In my capacity as executor for the will of my uncle I am disposing of a property in Newport but reside in West Ham. My lawyer (approximately 235 miles from merequires that I execute a statutory declaration prior to the transaction finalising. Can you recommend a conveyancing lawyer in West Ham to witness this legal document for me?
strictly speaking you should not need to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily any notary public or solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are West Ham based