I have justbecome aware that Wolstenholmes have been shut down. They carried out my conveyancing in Blackwood for a purchase of a leasehold apartment 12 months ago. How can I establish that my home is not still registered in the name of the previous owner?

The easiest method to check if the property is in your name, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Blackwood conveyancing specialists.

How does conveyancing in Blackwood differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Blackwood contact us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is finished. This is because builders in Blackwood usually buy the real estate, 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 Blackwood or who has acted in the same development.

I decided to have a survey done on a house in Blackwood ahead of instructing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. The surveyor has said that some banks may not grant a mortgage on this type of home.

It varies from the lender to lender. Lloyds has different instructions for example to Halifax. If you call us we can investigate further with 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 Blackwood. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Blackwood. Conveyancing and Chelsea Building Society mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1991. The conveyancing practitioner in Blackwood who acted for me is not around. Any advice?

First contact the Land Registry to be sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a Blackwood conveyancing solicitor to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

I invested in buying a garden flat in Blackwood, conveyancing having been completed in 2005. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Corresponding flats in Blackwood with over 90 years remaining are worth £179,000. The ground rent is £65 yearly. The lease runs out on 21st October 2081

You have 57 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to span between £26,600 and £30,800 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs in the absence of detailed investigations. You should not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt other issues that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.

I have read on numerous consumer advice websites that when choosing a conveyancing solicitors they need approved by your lender. It happens to be my first home move but I have an AIP with Nat West Bank and I already have a family conveyancing lawyer in Blackwood on standby. Will Nat West Bank require an approved lawyer to be used? Does a list of approved solicitors even exist for my conveyancing in Blackwood?

You need to instruct a solicitor that is on the Nat West Bank panel. Just telephone your chosen Blackwood conveyancing lawyer and ask if they are on the Nat West Bank panel. If they are not approved you have numerous options available to you here:

• Carry on with your existing Blackwood conveyancing practitioner but Nat West Bank will undoubtedly retain a conveyancing practitioner on their conveyancing panel. This will result in additional charges and likely delay.
• Appoint a new solicitor to conduct the conveyancing, making sure they are on the Nat West Bank conveyancing panel.
• Convince your solicitor to do everything possible to get accepted on the Nat West Bank conveyancing panel.