I own a terraced Georgian house in Ashby de la Zouch. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Yorkshire Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the matching address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You should read 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 proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Ashby de la Zouch and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy 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.

How does conveyancing in Ashby de la Zouch differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Ashby de la Zouch approach us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is constructed. This is because new home sellers in Ashby de la Zouch tend to buy the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Ashby de la Zouch or who has acted in the same development.

I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £235,500 and identified one close by in Ashby de la Zouch I like with open areas and railway links in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Ashby de la Zouch suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a mortgage that many years may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor about this matter.

Taking into account that I will soon spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on a two bedroom apartment in Ashby de la Zouch I wish to have a conversation with the lawyer regarding theconveyancing before appointing the firm. Can this be arranged?

Absolutely - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you liaising with the conveyancer who will be conducting your property ownership legalities in Ashby de la Zouch.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique person, not a case reference. The solicitors that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are quoted for residential conveyancing in Ashby de la Zouch should be the amount on the final invoice that you are charged.

Is it the case that all Ashby de la Zouch law firms on every bank conveyancing panel?

The Lexsure search tool on this page may be of use or you can drop into your high street lender branch in Ashby de la Zouch. the probability is that they will know some good conveyancing solicitors in Ashby de la Zouch