My aunt passed away six months ago and as sole heir and executor I was left the property in Barnet. The house had a relatively small loan left on it of around £5k. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Aldermore, pay off the mortgage. Is this allowed?

Where you plan to re-mortgage then Aldermore will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Aldermore conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Aldermore mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.

is it true that all Barnet conveyancing solicitors on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel are governed by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?

As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel they would need to be governed by the SRA. Many mortgage companies do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such practice would be governed by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

We were going to get a AIP from Nationwide this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Nationwide recommend any Barnet solicitors on the Nationwide conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?

You will need to appoint Barnet solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Nationwide through the process.

My husband and I are spending time looking at apartments in Barnet and I am now considering a potential offer. Should I already have a conveyancing practitioner in place at this point? I will be getting a home loan with RBS.

You should start requesting conveyancing estimates from solicitors ASAP. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on to the estate agent. Given that you are getting a mortgage with RBS, ask your prospective lawyers if they are on the RBS conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.

I require fast conveyancing in Barnet as I am under pressure to exchange contracts in less than one month. Luckily I do not require a mortgage. Can I decline from having conveyancing searches to save money and time?

As you are are a cash purchaser you are at free not to have searches carried out although no solicitor would advise that you don't. With lots of history conveyancing in Barnet the following are instances of what can appear and adversely affect future saleability: Enforcement Notices, Overdue Fees, Outstanding Grants, Railway Schemes,...

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in last month in what was supposed to be a simple, chain free conveyancing. Barnet is where the house is located. Is there any advice you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Barnet are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Barnet you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Barnet may decide 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 premises.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my basement apartment in Barnet. Conveyancing has not commenced, but I have recently had a quarterly service charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

The sensible thing to do is clear the service charge as you normally would as all rents and service payments should be apportioned on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

I inherited a first floor flat in Barnet. In the absence of agreement between myself and the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the sum due for the purchase of the freehold?

if there is a missing landlord or if there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the LVT to assess the sum to be paid.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Barnet residence is Flat 2 2 Netherfield Road in April 2010. The Tribunale held that premium payable for a 90 year extension to the existing Lease should be £7,705. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 76 years.