All was ready to move into my new home in Longton next Friday. I have now been asked to send a copy of my building insurance schedule by my solicitor as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the lender. What does the insurance need to cover?

Any lawyer on acting for lenders would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s Part 2 conditions. These requirements are not unique to conveyancing in Longton.

I am the registered owner of a freehold property in Longton but nevertheless pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in Longton and has limited impact for conveyancing in Longton but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of new rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence after 2037 is to be extinguished.

We are buying a flat in Longton. It might be a silly question but how we can trust a solicitor? At some point we have to send funds into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our monies?

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.

I have today made my last payment due on my mortgage with . I assume I don't need a Longton on the panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the mortgage from the register. , and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:

1. but are not moving to another property
2. where has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. has instructed the Land Registry to do so

I am selling my flat. I had a double glazing fitted in October 2010, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's mortgage company, are being difficult. The Longton solicitor who is on the conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?

It is probably the case that have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.

I am close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our house in Longton and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being constructed land that was not decontaminated. Any local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers are using an online conveyancing firm rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Longton. Having lived in Longton for many years we know that this is a non issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to obtain confirmation that the buyers are looking for.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You need to check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same illness)

I own a leasehold house in Longton. Conveyancing and mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing solicitor in Longton who previously acted has long since retired. Any advice?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. You do not need to incur the fees of a Longton conveyancing practitioner to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Longton - A selection of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

Can you inform me if there are any major works on the horizon that will likely increase the maintenance charges? This question is useful as a) areas may result in problems for the building as the communal areas may begin to deteriorate if maintenance are not paid for b) if the leasehold owners have an issue with the running of the building you will wish to have full disclosure Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge payments?