My lawyer in Melbourn has never been on on the The Mortgage Works Conveyancing Panel. Can I still retain my prefered solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the The Mortgage Works panel?

Your options are as follows:

1. Complete the purchase with your existing Melbourn lawyers but The Mortgage Works will need to instruct a conveyancer on their list of acceptable firms. This will inevitably rack up the overall legal charges as well as cause frustration.
2. Get an alternative lawyer to act in the purchase, not forgetting to check they are on the The Mortgage Works panel

My uncle informed me that in buying a property in Melbourn there could be various restrictions prohibiting external alterations to a property. Is this right?

We are aware of a number of properties in Melbourn which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to external variations. Part of the conveyancing in Melbourn should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

I have paid off my mortgage with Principality. I assume I don't need a Melbourn conveyancing practitioner on the Principality panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your Principality 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 Principality mortgage from the register. Principality, 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 Principality has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. Principality has instructed the Land Registry to do so

HSBC have agreed my home loan in principle, my bid on a apartment in Melbourn has been agreed to, now what?

Your estate agent will wish to be informed of your conveyancer's details (ensure that the property lawyers are on the lender’s approved list). Telephone HSBC or your financial adviser and complete any outstanding forms. HSBC will instruct a valuer who will get in contact with the selling agent or vendor to schedule an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes approximately ten days for the mortgage offer to be issued. HSBC will issue the offer to you and your lawyers. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing in Melbourn.

We are planning on selling our house in Melbourn and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being built on contaminated land. Any local conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the buyers used a national conveyancing outfit rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Melbourn. Having lived in Melbourn for three years we know of no issue. Do we get in touch with our local Authority to get clarification need.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. What do they say? You must enquire of 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)

How does conveyancing in Melbourn differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Melbourn contact us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is ready to move into. This is because house builders in Melbourn usually purchase the site, 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 conveyancers 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 Melbourn or who has acted in the same development.

I am attracted to a two flats in Melbourn which have about 50 years unexpired on the lease term. should I be concerned?

A lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a period of time. As a lease shortens the marketability of the lease deteriorates and it becomes more costly to extend the lease. For this reason it is generally wise to extend the lease term. Sometimes it is difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease as mortgage lenders less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a difficult process. We advise that you get professional help from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this field.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Melbourn - Examples of Queries before buying

How is the lease structured? Who manages the block?