Me and my brother have a terraced Victorian house in Earl Shilton. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Lloyds TSB Bank. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the matching property. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Earl Shilton and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the position with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.

I am buying a new build apartment in Earl Shilton. 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 few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Earl Shilton

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. Please supply evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified.

My father-in-law has suggested that I instruct his conveyancing solicitors in Earl Shilton. Should I choose my own property lawyer?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Earl Shilton conveyancing lawyer it’s preferable to find a conveyancing lawyer is to seek guidance from friends or relatives who have actually previously instructed the solicitor that you are considering.

I have recently realised that I have Seventy years remaining on my lease in Earl Shilton. I now want to get lease extension but my landlord is missing. What options are available to me?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the magistrate. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to locate the lessor. In some cases a specialist would be useful to conduct investigations and prepare an expert document which can be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a conveyancer both on proving the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court covering Earl Shilton.

I bought a 2 bed flat in Earl Shilton, conveyancing formalities finalised in 2008. Can you let me have an estimate of the premium that my landlord can legally expect in return for granting a renewal of my lease? Comparable flats in Earl Shilton with an extended lease are worth £176,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 invoiced every year. The lease terminates on 21st October 2104

You have 80 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to range between £8,600 and £9,800 as well as legals.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs without more detailed due diligence. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other issues that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

We are buying a four bedroom bungalowin Earl Shilton with a home loan from a bank. We would like to retain our conveyancer in Earl Shilton but our lender says he's not listed on their "panel". Apparently we need to choose one of the our mortgage company panel firms or keep our Earl Shilton conveyancer and incur the extra fees for one of their panel ones to represent our bank. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?

No, not really. The bank mortgage offered to you is subject to conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender's conveyancing panel. Until recently, most mortgage companies had open panels, including most conveyancing solicitors in Earl Shilton : a mortgagee could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for your lender.