My partner and I are buying our first home. Our has messagedto ask if we want to take out supplemental conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's needed for conveyancing in Brentwood

The type of Brentwood conveyancing searches should be dictated primarily on the premises, the location, the possibility of any of these risks, your familiarity of the area and risks, your general appetite to risk. What is important is that you adequately understand what information the searches could give you. You may then decide if you consider that you need that information. Where you are unsure, ask your to guide you.

Me and my brother own a terraced Georgian house in Brentwood. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and . I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Brentwood and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also question the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and identified one close by in Brentwood I like with amenity areas and station nearby, the downside is that it only has 49 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Brentwood for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a lease with such few years left?

If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you can ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.

I need to retain a conveyancing solicitor for residential conveyancing in Brentwood. I happened to land on a web site which appears to be the perfect solution If there is a chance to get all the legals done via phone that would be ideal. Should I be wary? What are the potential pitfalls?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

I have instructed a Brentwood conveyancing solicitor for our house purchase (first time buyers) and have noticed in the engagement letter that they are not overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority. Should I be concerned or is that usually the case with ?

We can't see why they should be. Most don't lend money. You should check that they are governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, who dictate specific rules in place on amounts deposited in their bank.