My partner and I are purchasing an apartment in Ongar. My property lawyer is not listed on the mortgage company approved list. Is it possible for me to use my Ongar conveyancing solicitor even though they are not on the mortgage company list of approved lawyers?

You have a number of alternatives available to you here

• Proceed with your preferred Ongar conveyancer but your mortgage company will need to use a conveyancing practitioner on their conveyancing panel. This will result in additional charges and potential interruption.
• Appoint a fresh lawyer to act in the purchase, making sure they are on the mortgage company conveyancing panel.
• Appeal to your property lawyer to seek to join the mortgage company panel

Can you help? My Ongar lawyer is informing me me that he is legally obliged toapply for Ongar conveyancing searches stemming from the fact thatthe firm are on the Santanderconveyancing panel. Is this really necessary?

Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with a lender your property lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your conveyancing practitioner would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your lender’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook provisions . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Ongar conveyancing searches.

How can we tell if a Ongar conveyancing solicitor on the Principality panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Ongar obtaining recommendations is a good starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always recommend that you speak with the lawyer conducting your conveyancing.

Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Lloyds. Ongar conveyancing solicitors were chosen. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Lloyds?

There is no definitive answer here. Have Lloyds conducted the valuation? Have you advised Lloyds as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Lloyds conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.

About to purchase house in Ongar. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Skipton conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Ongar conveyancing practitioner is on the Skipton conveyancing panel.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Ongar?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Ongar. 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…’

My partner has suggested that I use his conveyancers in Ongar. Should I choose my own conveyancer?

There are no two ways about it the ideal way to find a conveyancing lawyer is to get guidance from friends or relatives who have previously instructed the firm you're contemplating using.