AssumingI were to purchase a simple residential propertyin Leicester for cash and dispense with a survey and no local authority searches how much should I expect to to save on my conveyancing in Leicester?

The sole reduction in fees you would achieve is the Leicester conveyancing searches. A conveyancing practitioner is obliged to do the vast majority of work - money laundering, correspond with your sellers property lawyer, stamp duty submission, register the property etc. You might save a bit for them not needing to register a charge but it will not be a lot.

We are planning to acquire a property and require a conveyancing solicitor in Leicester who is on the Nottingham solicitor panel. Can you recommend a local conveyancing firm?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Nottingham . We don't recommend any particular firms conducting conveyancing in Leicester.

My wife and I are purchasing a apartment in Leicester. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a conveyancer? On the day of competition we have to send our life savings into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our deposit?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

Are all Leicester Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the TSB conveyancing list of approved firms?

A selection of lenders now utilise the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to join their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Leicester. I have a mortgage agreed with HSBC. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with HSBC, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the HSBC conveyancing panel.

What does a local search inform me about the property I am buying in Leicester?

Leicester conveyancing often starts with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations for instance Xpress Legal The local search plays an important part in many a Leicester conveyancing purchase; as long as you wish to avoid any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search should reveal data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 topic sections.

My husband and I have just had an offer accepted on a house and had an appointment on Friday with Leeds Building Society for the mortgage. They warned us that when it comes to selecting a lawyer that if they are not on their approved list of lawyers then we will be subject to an an extra fee of about two hundred pounds. This is because they would then have to select a solicitor to act for them as well as the one we choose to act on our behalf and we will be on the hook for their invoice. I have requested Leeds Building Society to provide me with a list so I can obtain estimates only from their approved solicitors but was told they dont have such a list to hand over. Is their an easier way of going about this?

You can enquire of Leeds Building Society what their panel criteria is for a conveyancer.Thereafter ask the conveyancer of your choice whether they meet the criteria and have they acted on loans for Leeds Building Society historically. If the answer to those is yes, then just double check with Leeds Building Society. Alternatively please make use of our search facility and we may be able to find you a conveyancing practitioner in Leicester on the panel for Leeds Building Society.