Recently been in touch with my conveyancing solicitor in North West London who completed the legal work two years ago and wanted a conveyancing costs illustration based on an identical type of house sale & purchase (a leasehold premises and a freehold property) of similar values with a mortgage from Britannia. I am now being quoted double. Should I hunt for a cheaper internet conveyancer?

The costs illustration is slightly on the steep side. If you you were to look around you might shave off some of the expense by say a hundred pounds. On the other hand, if you were happy with the service the firm offered you mightcome to rue choosing an a cheaper lawyer. Remember to check the solicitor can also act for Britannia. You can use our search tool to get a quote a North West London conveyancing firm on the Britannia member panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in North West London.

I am the registered owner of a freehold property in North West London but nevertheless invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in North West London and has limited impact for conveyancing in North West London 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 have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of fresh rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

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

I am looking to buy a property and require a conveyancing solicitor in North West London who is on the Coventry Building Society solicitor. Can you recommend a local solicitor?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Coventry Building Society in certain locations such as North West London. We dont recommend any particular firm.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as UBS, do North West London lawyers face a yearly amount to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any lender fees to register on their panel, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.

We had selected solicitors based in North West London on the Aldermore solicitor panel. They are now charging me an additional amount for dealing with the Aldermore mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee specified by Aldermore?

Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms of Engagement or Quote then yes your solicitor is entitled to charge a fee for this. This fee is not dictated by Aldermore but by your North West London conveyancer. Plenty of firms on the Aldermore panel will levy ’dealing with mortgage’ fee and others do not.

My wife and I are at the point of viewing houses in North West London and I am now considering a potential offer. Is it best to have a property lawyer on ‘stand by’? I will be getting a home loan with TSB.

You should start obtaining conveyancing estimates from solicitors ASAP. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their contact information on to the EA. As you are taking out a mortgage with TSB, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the TSB conveyancing panel.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in North West London?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in North West London. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’