I am acquiring a house mortgage free in Stoke Newington. I have resided for the previous 20 years in Stoke Newington. Conveyancing searches are expensive. Given that I know the road and vicinity very well should I not bother getting the solicitor to do all the conveyancing searches?

Provided that you do not need a mortgage, then almost all of the Stoke Newington conveyancing searches are at your discretion. Your lawyer will try and sway you, no-doubt strongly, that you should have searches done, but he has a professional duty to take that path of guidance. Do bear in mind; if you are intend to sell the house at a future date, it will likely be be of importance to your future purchaser what the searches determine. Sometimes premises with no practical issues can still show up detrimental search results. A good conveyancing solicitor in Stoke Newington will provide you some sensible guidance in this regard.

we are a couple who intend to purchase a 1 bedroom apartment in Stoke Newington with a homeloan from Barclays Direct.We use our Stoke Newington conveyancing solicitor but Barclays Direct informed us his firm is not on their approved list of firms. We have to appoint a Barclays Direct panel solicitor or retain our high street solicitor and pay for a Barclays Direct panel lawyer to act for them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?

Unfortunately,no. The home loan issued to you is subject to its various provisions, a common one being that conveyancers needs to be on the Barclays Direct approved list. in the past, most lenders had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower 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. A further alternative is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Barclays Direct

Given that I am about to part with 450k on 3 bedroom house in Stoke Newington I would like to have a conversation with the solicitor regarding thetransaction ahead of giving the go ahead to the firm. Can this be arranged?

This is something that we encourage - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you liaising with the conveyancer due to be carrying out your conveyancing in Stoke Newington.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is unique individual, not a case number. The practices that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are provided with for your conveyancing in Stoke Newington should be the amount on the final invoice that you end up paying.

As co-executor for the will of my grandfather I am selling a property in Swansea but reside in Stoke Newington. My conveyancer (who is 200 miles from meneeds me to sign a stat dec ahead of completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing lawyer in Stoke Newington who can witness and place their company stamp on the document?

Technically speaking you are unlikely to be required to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily any notary public or qualified solicitor will do regardless of whether they are located in Stoke Newington

I note that you have a search directory identifying law firms on the lender conveyancing panel. Do Stoke Newington conveyancing companies pay you a referral fee if I instruct them for my own conveyancing?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the lender conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Stoke Newington.