I have given 8 weeks notice to my existing landlord and must vacate my rented apartment in Hornsey by 14/11/2025. Conveyancing for my house purchase has just started. Can I complete in a couple of weeks as don't want to have to find temporary accommodation?

The normal practice is not to serve notice for your letting until your lawyer suggests that you should. If you have not previously done so, speak to your lawyer and urge them to they apply pressure on the sellers lawyers, try to a target completion date that everyone will aim towards

My husband and I are hoping to buy a newbuild flat in Hornsey with a mortgage from Nationwide Building Society.We use our Hornsey conveyancing practitioner but Nationwide Building Society advised that her practice is not listed on their approved list of firms. we are left little option but to use a Nationwide Building Society panel firm or retain our high street solicitor and fork out for a Nationwide Building Society panel lawyer to act for them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?

Unfortunately,no. The home loan issued to you contains terms and conditions, a common one being that lawyers will be on the Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel. in the past, most banks had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower 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 solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Nationwide Building Society

Should my lawyer be asking questions regarding flooding during the conveyancing in Hornsey.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for solicitors dealing with homes in Hornsey. Some people will purchase a property in Hornsey, fully expectant that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, aside from the physical destruction, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, adequate building insurance, or dispose of the premises. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.

Lawyers are not best placed to offer advice on flood risk, but there are a various checks that can be undertaken by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better understanding of the risks in Hornsey. The conventional set of information sent to a buyer’s solicitor (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a usual inquiry of the vendor to determine whether the premises has historically flooded. In the event that the property has been flooded in past and is not disclosed by the seller, then a purchaser could bring a claim for damages resulting from an inaccurate reply. The buyer’s lawyers should also order an environmental search. This should disclose if there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed investigations should be initiated.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Hornsey?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Hornsey. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

Am I best advised to go with a Hornsey conveyancing lawyer based in the location that I am hoping to buy? I have an old university friend who can execute the legal formalities however his firm is located a couple of hundredmiles away.

The benefit of a local Hornsey conveyancing practice is that you can attend the office to execute documents, hand in your identification documents and pester them if necessary. Having local Hornsey know how is a plus. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who instructed your friend and they were happy that should outweigh using an unknown Hornsey conveyancing solicitor just because they are Hornsey based.