I purchased a 4 bedroom Victorian property in Chessington. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and The Royal Bank of Scotland. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You should assess 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 owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Chessington and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also question the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.

How does conveyancing in Chessington differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Chessington approach us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is finished. This is because builders in Chessington usually purchase the site, 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 Chessington or who has acted in the same development.

I'm refinancing my existing house to a BTL loan with Virgin Money and intend to use the remaining equity as a down payment on further property. The area we are talking about is Chessington. Will your lawyers be able to act for the two mortgage companies and link together the conveyances?

Do use our comparison tool on this site to ensure that the conveyancers are on the appropriate lender panels. Having checked that they are your solicitor should be able to simultaneously deal with the two transactions but you should talk with you conveyancer and specify your expectations and needs.

My husband and I are first time buyers - had an offer accepted, but the property agent told us that the seller will only go ahead if we use their preferred conveyancers as they need an ‘expedited deal’. We would rather use a high street solicitor who is accustomed to conveyancing in Chessington

We suspect that the seller is unaware of this demand. If they desire ‘a quick sale', turning down a genuine purchaser is is going to put the whole deal at risk. Speak to the owners direct and explain that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are excited to move forward, with finances arranged © you have nothing to sell (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you are going to use your own,trusted Chessington conveyancing firm - as opposed tothe ones that will provide their estate agent a introducer fee or hit his conveyancing figures set by senior management.

My step-mother completed her conveyancing in Chessington 9 years past. She has since got married, widowed and is now remarried. She intends to market the house in a couple of months. I think she will just be need to provide a copy of her marriage papers to the conveyancer however she is worried it could frustrate the conveyancing. Is it worth updating the title information for the property?

The is no need to bring up to date the register as long as you have the evidence needed to show how the change of name resulted.

Any purchaser’s lawyer should check the title details and ask for evidence by way of proof of the name change for instance marriage certificates.