I am getting a mortgage offer from Halifax. I would like to employ the services of a Licensed Conveyancer in New Southgate. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel allow for Licensed Conveyancers?

The Halifax approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

Have just purchased a probate house at auction in New Southgate. Conveyancing is necessary. What are my next steps?

Now that you are to all intents and purposes signed on the dotted line you should instruct a conveyancing lawyer soon as you are facing a tight a fixed date to complete the purchase. An auction property will have a corresponding legal set of papers. This should include the copy title deeds, local authority and drainage searches. In the case of leasehold property the legal papers should include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing documentation pertinent to a leasehold property. You should pass this on to the solicitor working for you as soon as possible. You also need to ensure that your finances are in order to complete on the date specified in the contract.

A relative informed me that in purchasing a property in New Southgate there could be a number of restrictions prohibiting external alterations to a property. Is this right?

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

We previously chose conveyancing lawyers based in New Southgate on the Aldermore solicitor approved list. They have just invoiced me a further charge for the legal aspects of the Aldermore mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Aldermore?

Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your solicitor is entitled to charge a fee for this. This charge is not set by Aldermore but by your New Southgate conveyancer. Numerous firms on the Aldermore panel will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.

My wife and I are downsizing from our property in New Southgate and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. A local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers are using an online conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in New Southgate. We have lived in New Southgate for 5 years we know of no issue. Do we get in touch with our local Authority to obtain clarification need.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing solicitor already. Are they able to advise? You must 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 life insurance to cover that same illness)

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in two weeks back in what should have been a quick, chain free conveyancing. New Southgate is where the house is located. Can you offer any opinion?

Flying freeholds in New Southgate are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside New Southgate you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in New Southgate may determine 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.

My partner and I have had DIP from Yorkshire Building Society who suggested that they will loan up to £400k. When do we need to appoint a lawyer for conveyancing? New Southgate is where we plan to move to.

It would be wise to instruct a solicitor now so that the conveyancer can open the ledger so they can commence the AML checks etc. Once you wish them to start work you will be asked for a payment on account normally approximately £200. That should generally be once you have the loan offer from the lender and survey report, however if you wish to expedite matters you can start the ball rolling quicker even though you may be risking some expense.