IfI was to purchase a simple residential propertyin Alresford for cash and dispense with a survey and no local authority searches how much could I expect to have to pay for conveyancing in Alresford?

Any savings you would achieve would be limited to the disbursement for searches. Your solicitor still got to do everything else - money laundering, liaising with your sellers solicitor, stamp duty submission, register the property etc. You might save a bit for them not needing to register a mortgage however it won't be significant.

My stepmother pointed out to me me that in buying a property in Alresford there could be various restrictions affecting the ability to carry out external changes to the property. Is this right?

We are aware of anumerous of properties in Alresford which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to perform external alterations. Part of the conveyancing in Alresford should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as Kent Reliance, do Alresford conveyancers have to pay a yearly amount to be on the list of approved solicitors?

We are not aware of any mortgage company fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do levy an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

I am selling my apartment. I had a double glazing fitted in March 2006, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's lender, Aldermore are being problematic. The Alresford solicitor who is on the Aldermore conveyancing panel is saying indemnity insurance will be fine but Aldermore are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do Aldermore have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?

It is probably the case that Aldermore have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Aldermore may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.

My wife and I own a terraced Georgian house in Alresford. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Britannia. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the matching address. Is it worth asking Britannia to clarify?

You should read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Alresford 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 enquire as to the situation with the conveyancing solicitor who conducted the conveyancing.

I decided to have a survey done on a property in Alresford prior to retaining solicitors. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold element to the house. My surveyor advised that some lenders will not give a mortgage on this type of premises.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Lloyds has different requirements for example to Halifax. Should you wish to telephone us we can look into this further via the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Alresford. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

I need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Alresford for my sale. Is there any facility to see a solicitor's record with the legal regulator?

Members of the public may see documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions stemming from investigations started on or after Jan 2008. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For details Pre 2008, or to check a firm's record, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For callers outside the UK, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA could recorded call for training requirements.