Do the Building Society Association intend to launch a online directory to to identify firms on the Loughborough BS conveyancing panel for example in Halstead?

We have not been informed any plans on the part of the BSA to develop such a tool.

The deeds to our house can not be found. The lawyers who handled the conveyancing in Halstead 5 years ago are no longer around. What are my options?

Nowadays there are copies made of almost everything, and your conveyancer should be aware exactly where to look for all the relevant paperwork so you may purchase or dispose of your property without a hitch. Where duplicates can’t be found, your lawyer may be able to put in place insurance or indemnities protecting you against possible claims on your premises.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £195,000 and identified one near me in Halstead I like with open areas and railway links in the vicinity, however it's only got 52 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Halstead in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease will likely be problematic. Reduce the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor about this matter.

I wish to sublet my leasehold flat in Halstead. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Is permission from the freeholder required?

A small minority of properties in Halstead do contain a provision to say that subletting is only allowed with permission. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse but, in such cases, they would need to review references. Experience dictates that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting permission.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Halstead - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

What is the name of the managing agents? What is the service charge and ground rent on the apartment? Is the freehold reversion owned jointly by the leaseholders?

Me and my partner are hoping to buy a three bedroom bungalowin Halstead with a home loan from a mortgage company. We have selected a solicitor in Halstead yet our bank advise he's not listed on their "panel". Apparently we need to choose one of the our lender panel solicitors or keep our Halstead conveyancer and incur the extra fees for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; Can we not simply insist that our lender use our Halstead lawyer?

Unfortunately,no. The bank mortgage issued is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank's conveyancing panel. in the past, most mortgage companies had large numbers of law firms on their panels, including many conveyancing solicitors in Halstead : a mortgagee could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for your mortgage company.