Me and my wife are acquiring our first house. The property lawyer has calledto enquire if we want to take out supplemental conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's recommended for conveyancing in Loughborough

The number and type of Loughborough conveyancing searches depends primarily on the premises, the location, the probability of any of these risks, your familiarity of the region and risks, your general attitude to risk. What is important is that you adequately comprehend what information each search could give you. You may then decide if you personally think you need that information. If unsure, ask the solicitor to advise.

My wife and I own a renovated Georgian property in Loughborough. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Barnsley Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the matching address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You need to 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 Loughborough and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also question the position with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in two weeks back in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. Loughborough is the location of the property. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Loughborough are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Loughborough you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Loughborough may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.

Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Loughborough with the aim of speeding up the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Loughborough can be reduced where you appoint lawyers as soon as your agents start marketing the property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ lawyers.
If there is a history of conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where there is a current dispute. You will have to accept that you will have to pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the buyers, but it is better to present the dispute as over as opposed to unsettled. If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should make sure that you are holding the original share certificate. Obtaining a replacement share certificate is often a time consuming process and frustrates many a Loughborough home move. If a reissued share is needed, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity. If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s permission? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Loughborough leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or installing wooden flooring necessitate a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such works. If you dont have the approvals to hand do not contact the landlord without checking with your solicitor in the first instance.

I purchased a leasehold flat in Loughborough, conveyancing formalities finalised January 2012. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Corresponding properties in Loughborough with an extended lease are worth £191,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £55 levied per year. The lease expires on 21st October 2079

With 54 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £31,400 and £36,200 as well as professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure without more detailed due diligence. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other concerns that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

I am seeking to acquire a repossessed house in Loughborough and the vendor require completion within 28 days. Can a solicitor meet that timeframe? Am I best advised to instruct a local Loughborough firm or an online firm that advertises to offer speedy conveyancing?

Visit your Loughborough shopping parade. Pop in to a couple of firms and request to see a conveyancing solicitor for an estimate. Discuss your requirements and seek a commitment on speed. Choose the firm that appears most trustworthy. You need to use a conveyancer on the panel of lawyers acceptable to your bank.