As a first time buyer what is the most important number one tip you can impart regarding purchase conveyancing in Leicestershire?

You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Leicestershire and elsewhere in England and Wales is often a confrontational experience. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there is plenty of opportunity for friction between you and others involved in the house moving process. For example, the seller, selling agent and sometimes your mortgage company. Choosing a solicitor for your conveyancing in Leicestershire is a critical decision as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONLY party in the transaction whose interest is to act in your best interests and to protect you.

Sometimes a potential adversary will try and sway you that you should follow their advice. For instance, the selling agent may claim to be assisting by claiming that your solicitor is slow. Or your financial adviser may try to convince you to do take action that is against your conveyancers advice. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties in the conveyancing process.

we are a couple who wish to acquire a newly converted flat in Leicestershire with a mortgage from Chelsea Building Society.We use our Leicestershire conveyancing solicitor but Chelsea Building Society advised that he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint a Chelsea Building Society panel lawyer or keep our preferred solicitor and pay for a Chelsea Building Society panel lawyer to act for them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?

Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its various provisions, one of which will be that solicitors needs to be on the Chelsea Building Society conveyancing panel. in the past, most banks had large numbers of law firms 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 Chelsea Building Society

My wife and I own a 4 bedroom Edwardian property in Leicestershire. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Accord Mortgages Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

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 Leicestershire and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also enquire as to the position with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the work.

I am buying a new build flat in Leicestershire. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Set out below are examples of a few leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Leicestershire

Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided.

My father has urged me to instruct his conveyancers in Leicestershire. Should I use them?

No doubt the best way to find a conveyancing lawyer is to have referrals from friends or family who have actually previously instructed the conveyancer you're contemplating using.