My best friend’s mother is a conveyancer. I am hopeful that I'll be able to get mate’s fee for conveyancing, However if that does not come materialise, what kind of fees would I typically be looking at for conveyancing in Barnet?

It’s sensible to seek 3 or more like-for-like conveyancing quotes. Make use of our comparison tool on this page. Whilst charges do be different but service levels do are distinct between conveyancers as is the case with most professions.

I own a freehold house in Barnet but still charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Barnet and has limited impact for conveyancing in Barnet but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the creation of new rentcharges post 1977.

Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 will be dispensed with completely.

What is the difference between a licensed conveyancer and conveyancing solicitor in Barnet

There are two types of lawyers who can do conveyancing in Barnet namely CLC regulated conveyancers or solicitors. The two can handle conveyancing services that required to complete the disposal or acquisition of property. They are both duty bound to handle Barnet conveyancing to the same quality and guidelines so you can be sure that your conveyancing will be professionally carried out and that all requisite procedures should be accurately taken.

When it comes to lenders such as RBS, do Barnet conveyancers face a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any bank fees to register on their panel, although some do levy an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

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

It is probably the case that HSBC have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why HSBC 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.

I'm buying my first flat in Barnet with a mortgage from Skipton Building Society. The builders would not budge the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The estate agent suggested that I not disclose to my solicitor about the deal as it may jeopardize my mortgage with the lender. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I have just started marketing my basement flat in Barnet. Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon, however I have just had a half-yearly service charge demand – Do I pay up?

The sensible thing to do is pay the invoice as usual given that all ground rent and maintenance charges will be allotted on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most managing agents 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

Having spent years of negotiations we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Barnet. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

in cases where there is a absentee landlord or if there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to decide the sum to be paid.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Barnet flat 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 residue of the current lease was 76 years.