I'm in the process of swapping over from my current homeowner mortgage to a BTL Britannia mortgage. I have been informed by my broker that I must appoint a solicitor for this. I spoke to my past Haggerston conveyancing practitioner who acted on my behalf when I previously acquired the premises. The costs illustration they've given of £575 plus disbursements has shocked me as I am not require purchase conveyancing - it’s simply a straightforward remortgage.

The estimate does seem a tad on the high side. If you shop around you might get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by as much as £125. That being said, if you were content with the legal work the firm gave you mightcome to regret opting for an an unknown lawyer. If is important to be sure the solicitor can represent Britannia. Do employ our search tool to select a Haggerston conveyancing firm on the Britannia member panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Haggerston.

We are expecting a mortgage offer soon. The bank mentioned the loan came with free conveyancing. Is the implication that I have to appoint their panel conveyancer as I would much rather appoint a Haggerston based conveyancing firm?

Do check but the chances are that allocate you one of their panel lawyers where you take up the "fee-free" offer. Speak to the lender and determine if they make available a cash alternative. In the past a few mortgage companies offered a £250 cashback as an alternative in which case that money can go towards your preferred conveyancing solicitor in Haggerston.

I'm buying a new build house in Haggerston with the aid of help to buy. The sellers would not move on the price so I negotiated 6k of fixtures and fittings instead. The estate agent suggested that I not to tell my solicitor about the side-deal as it may jeopardize my loan with Chelsea Building Society. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I was pointed in your direction by a few selling agents in Haggerston to choose a property lawyer using your seach tool. What’s the financial inducement for Estate Agents to market your lawyers over alternative conveyancing organisations?

We don’t make any financial incentive for directing people our way. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission as members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to meet my requirements, at a great figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently been informed that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Haggerston. Conveyancing lawyers have are soon to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Haggerston are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Haggerston in which case you should be shopping around for a Haggerston conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions such as obtaining the landlord’spermission to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer will advise you fully on all the issues.