We see that you have a post code search directory listing solicitors on the Santander conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a referral fee if I retain them for our conveyancing in Halifax?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Santander conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Halifax.

My friend advised me that if I am buying in Halifax I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?

A search of this type is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Halifax conveyancing searches. It is a large document of about 40 pages, listing and setting out important information about Halifax around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime statistics, Halifax Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data concerning Halifax.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a simple, chain free conveyancing. Halifax is where the house is located. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Halifax are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Halifax you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Halifax may determine 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 premises.

As co-executor for the will of my grandmother I am selling a house in Cardiff but I am based in Halifax. My conveyancer (based 260 kilometers from mehas requested that I execute a statutory declaration prior to the transaction finalising. Can you recommend a conveyancing lawyer in Halifax who can witness this legal document for me?

Technically speaking you should not need to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally any notary public or solicitor will do regardless of whether they are Halifax based

Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Halifax. Before I get started I want to be sure as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Halifax - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title. For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

I inherited a 2 bed flat in Halifax, conveyancing having been completed half a dozen years ago. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Comparable flats in Halifax with over 90 years remaining are worth £192,000. The ground rent is £55 invoiced every year. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2079

With 54 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to range between £32,300 and £37,400 plus costs.

The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more detailed due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first getting professional advice.