My solicitor has informed me that absentee landlord insurance is needed on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in Finsbury?

The right level of absentee landlord indemnity insurance should be dictated by who your lender. It would differ for example between Birmingham Midshires and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. Conveyancing solicitors as opposed to borrowers take out such policies.

We expect to receive a DIP from HSBC this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do HSBC recommend any Finsbury solicitors on the HSBC conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?

You will need to appoint Finsbury solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the HSBC conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and HSBC through the process.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Finsbury off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with TSB. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with TSB, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the TSB conveyancing panel.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I have offered on last month in what was supposed to be a quick, no chain conveyancing. Finsbury is where the house is located. Is there any advice you can give?

Flying freeholds in Finsbury are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Finsbury you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Finsbury may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

I'm converting the mortgage on my existing home to a BTL loan with Barclays Direct and intend to use the remaining equity as a deposit on further property. The area we are interested in is Finsbury. Will your conveyancers be able to act for both sets of banks and tie in the two deals?

Make use of our search tool on this page to be sure that the conveyancers are on the appropriate lender panels. Having checked that they are the conveyancer should be able to tie up the two conveyancing matters but you should talk with you conveyancer and specify your desired outcome and needs.

I need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor for purchase conveyancing in Finsbury. I have land on a site which looks to be the perfect solution If there is a chance to get all the legals done via phone that would be preferable. Do I need to be concerned? What should out be looking out for?

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?

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Finsbury from the point of view of saving time on the sale process?

• Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Finsbury can be bypassed if you appoint lawyers the minute your agents start advertising the property and ask them to collate the leasehold information needed by the buyers’ lawyers.
Some Finsbury leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their lawyers. If there is a history of any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are settled before the property is marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where there is a current dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and discharge any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to present the dispute as historic rather than unresolved. You may think that you are aware of the number of years remaining on your lease but it would be advisable double-check by asking your conveyancers. A buyer’s conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the remaining number of years is under 75 years. It is therefore important at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease term for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

My wife and I have hit a brick wall in trying to purchase the freehold in Finsbury. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?

Where there is a missing landlord or if there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the relevant statutes it is possible to make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to assess the premium.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Finsbury residence is Flat 89 Trinity Court Grays Inn Road in February 2013. the Tribunal found that the premium to be paid by the tenant on the grant of a new lease, in accordance with section 56 and Schedule 13 to the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 should be £36,229. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 66.8 years.