My fiancee and I are acquiring our first property. Our solicitor has e-mailedto ask if we wish to order additional conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's needed for conveyancing in Blagdon

The scope of Blagdon conveyancing searches should be triggered based primarily on the premises, the location, the probability of any of these risks, your knowledge of the region and risks, your overall appetite to risk. What matters is that you adequately appreciate what information each search could provide. You may then make a decision if you consider that you need that information. If uncertain, ask the conveyancing practitioner to recommend.

We wanted to use a conveyancing solicitor in Blagdon for our house purchase. Our financial adviser has since advised us that our mortgage lenders Nottingham Building Society won't deal with them. Surely this is unduly restrictive?

Lenders ordinarily imposes restrictions either the type or the volume of conveyancing solicitors on their panel. Typical examples of such criteria being that a law practice must not be a sole practitioner. In addition to restricting the profile of firm, some have decided to limit the amount of solicitor practices they use to act for them. You should note that Nottingham Building Society have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of Nottingham Building Society Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of solicitor panels a few years ago even though there are mixed opinions about the level of solicitor engagement in some of that fraud. Figures from the Land Registry indicate that thousands of law firms, including some in or near Blagdon only perform very few conveyances per annum.

My relative suggested that where I am buying in Blagdon I should ask my conveyancer to perform a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?

This is a search is usually quoted for as part of the standard Blagdon conveyancing searches. It is a large document of about 40 pages, listing and detailing significant information about Blagdon around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime details, Blagdon Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information concerning Blagdon.

I have recentlybecome aware that Stirling Law have been shut down. They conducted my conveyancing in Blagdon for a purchase of a freehold house 18 months ago. How can I check that the property is in my name in the name of the former proprietor?

The easiest way to see if the premises is registered to you, 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 Blagdon conveyancing specialists.

Is it simple use your search tool to select a conveyancing solicitor in Blagdon on the approved list for my mortgage?

1st select a mortgage company such as Barclays , Bank of Scotland or Bank of Ireland then specify your location e.g. Blagdon. Conveyancing firms in Blagdon and beyond should be identified.