I am purchasing a 4 bedroom semi-detached house in Knaresborough. The intention is to carry out a loft conversion at the property.Will the conveyancing process involve investigations to ascertain if these alterations were previously refused?

Your conveyancer should check the registered title as conveyancing in Knaresborough can on occasion identify restrictions in the title deeds which prevent categories of alterations or require the permission of another owner. Many extensions call for local authority planning consent and approval in compliance with building regulations. Some areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which frequently prevent or affect extensions. You should check these things with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.

My husband and I have arranged a further advance on our home loan from Barclays as we wish to conduct alterations to our home in Knaresborough. Do we need to appoint a local Knaresborough solicitor on the Barclays conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?

Barclays do not ordinarily require firms on their approved list of lawyers to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Barclays conveyancing panel.

We have a mortgage agreed in principle with RBS. Knaresborough conveyancing solicitors were instructed. How long does it take for RBS to forward the offer to the solicitor?

There is no definitive answer here. Have RBS done the survey? Have you advised RBS as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the RBS conveyancing panel? Sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued.

I got the keys to my house on 12 October and the transaction details is yet to be registered. Any reason for this? My conveyancing solicitor in Knaresborough expressed confidence that it would be concluded inside ten days. Are titles in Knaresborough uniquely lengthy to register?

There is nothing unique when it comes to conveyancing in Knaresborough registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timeframes can vary according to who lodges the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry communicate with any interested persons or bodies. At present approximately 80% of submission are completed within two weeks but occasionally there can be longer delays. Registration occurs after the new owner is living at the property so 'speed' is not always primary concern but if it is urgent that the the registration takes place urgently then you or your solicitor can communicate with the Registry to express the reasoning for an expedited registration.

How does conveyancing in Knaresborough differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Knaresborough contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is constructed. This is because house builders in Knaresborough typically purchase the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Knaresborough or who has acted in the same development.

My father has suggested that I use his conveyancing solicitors in Knaresborough. Do I follow his guidance?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Knaresborough conveyancing lawyer the best way to select a conveyancing solicitor is to have guidance from friends or relatives who have experience in using the conveyancer you're considering.

Online research suggests that Knaresborough solicitors are more costly than licensed conveyancers in Knaresborough when it comes to purchasing a house. So is it better if I use a conveyancer or a solicitor where I am buying for my home move in Knaresborough.

When it comes to conveyancing in Knaresborough the costs are unlikely to vary dramatically depending on whether the legal expert is a licenced conveyancer or solicitor.