As someone clueless as to the Hendon conveyancing process what is your top tip you can give me concerning the legal transfer of property in Hendon

Not many law firms shout this from the rooftops but conveyancing in Hendon and elsewhere in is an adversarial process. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there is lots of opportunity for confrontation between you and other parties involved in the legal transfer of property. For example, the seller, estate agent and even potentially a mortgage company. Choosing a solicitor for your conveyancing in Hendon should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE party in the process whose role it is to act in your legal interests and to protect you.

On occasion a potential adversary may attempt to persuade you that it is in your interests to do things their way. For instance, the property agent may claim to be assisting by suggesting your lawyer is wrong. Or your mortgage broker may advise you to do something that is against your lawyers guidance. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties in the home moving process.

I have been recommended a conveyancing solicitor in Hendon. I need to find out whether they are on the approved list of lawyers. Could you help?

The first thing to do is e-mail the lawyer and enquire if they can act for the lender. Otherwise you should get in touch with who may be able to confirm.

I have been told that property searches are the main reason for stalling in Hendon house deals. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the findings of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the most frequent causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Searches are unlikely to be the root cause of delay in conveyancing in Hendon.

I own a semi-detached Victorian property in Hendon. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and . I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the matching property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You should assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Hendon and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also question the situation with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the work.

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one close by in Hendon I like with a park and railway links nearby, the downside is that it only has 61 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Hendon suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a short lease?

If you need a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will be problematic. Reduce the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you may request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this.