Do the Building Society Association intend to launch a online directory to list practices on the Earl Shilton BS conveyancing panel for example in Colne?

We are not aware of any plans on the part of the BSA to develop such a register.

I have been told that property searches are the primary cause of hinderance in Colne conveyancing transactions. Is that correct?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published determinations of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature within the most frequent causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are unlikely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Colne.

I opted to have a survey completed on a property in Colne ahead of appointing solicitors. I have been told that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor advised that some lenders will refuse to give a loan on such a premises.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Lloyds has different instructions for example to Halifax. Should you wish to call us we can check via 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 Colne. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

We are 14 days into a freehold purchase having been directed to a firm by the estate agent to perform conveyancing in Colne. I am not happy. Can you you assist me in finding new lawyers?

They would need to be really bad to suggest replacing them. Has the mortgage offer been sent? If so you must inform them of the replacement solicitor and have the loan are issued to the new lawyers. Your new solicitor ideally should be on the lenders panel to avoid supplemental expenses and complications. So that should be your first question of the new solicitors. The search tool should assist you in finding a lender approved solicitor for your conveyancing in Colne

Two months into buying a house in Colne. Conveyancing lawyer has phoned to say the property is "Leasehold". Will this likely adversely affect our home loan valuation?

Colne conveyancing does not ordinarily involve leasehold houses. The crucial consideration here is the length of lease and the ground rent. If it's 999 years with a nominal rent, it's virtually freehold, so it shouldn't impact the marketability significantly.

At the other extreme, if it's, say, Sixty years it will have a significant impact on the saleability, and probably wouldn't be mortgageable. The remaining lease term and ground rent will be stated in the lease to be supplied to your solicitor.