I am in the process of selling my maisonette in Banbury and the estate agent has just e-mailed to advise that the buyers are appointing a new property lawyer. The reason given is that the bank will only deal with solicitors on their approved list. On what basis would a big named mortgage company only engage with certain lawyers rather the firm that they want to select for their conveyancing in Banbury ?

Mortgage companies have always had an approved set of law firms they are content to work with, but in recent years big names such as Nationwide, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for over 25 years.

Lenders blame a rise in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to keep an eye on. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Some do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your purchasers are not going to have any sway in the decision.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Banbury is where the house is located. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Banbury are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Banbury you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Banbury may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.

How do I locate a Banbury solicitor on the Britannia conveyancing panel? I am a keen cyclist and am willing to travel upto 10kilometers to meet the conveyancer.

You can use the facility on this website. Please select a lender and your location and you will see a number of Banbury conveyancing lawyers locally. We have listed some Banbury conveyancing firms towards the end of this page and you can call them to see whether they are on the Britannia member panel

I am looking for a conveyancing practitioner in Banbury for my purchase. Can I see a firm’s complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

Anyone may read documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations stemming from inquisitions from 2008 onwards. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For details about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors record, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. International callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA could recorded telephone calls for training purposes.

Me and my husband have just had an offer accepted on our first home in Banbury, and are now looking to get solicitors appointed. I have used the numerous rating based websites and the quotes are from all across the England and Wales. Is it critical to have a Banbury lawyer local to your prospective property? I am willing to do everything over email, but I guess at some stage we will need to attend the property lawyer's office to sign papers?

Usually there is no requirement to physically visit the office of your property lawyer, they can post any relevant papers to you, which you can sign and send back. Many buyers and sellers prefer to use a locally based solicitor, but it is not essential for conveyancing in Banbury.