Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Ongar. My lender is Nationwide Building Society

Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 6/9/2024, the requirements read as follows :

The deeds to my property are lost. The conveyancers who dealt with the conveyancing in Ongar 4 years ago have long since closed. What are my options?

Nowadays there are copies made of almost everything, and your solicitor should know precisely where to find all the relevant documentation so you can buy or sell your house without a hitch. Where duplicates can’t be found, your lawyer may be able to arrange cover in the form of insurance or indemnities protecting you against future claims on your premises.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in last month in what was supposed to be a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Ongar is where the house is located. Can you offer any assistance?

Flying freeholds in Ongar are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Ongar you must be sure that your lawyer goes 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 Ongar 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 property.

Is it best to use a Ongar conveyancing solicitor based in the location that I am buying? I have an old university friend who can perform the legal work however his firm is located a couple of hundredkilometers drive away.

The primary upside of using a local Ongar conveyancing firm is that you can attend the office to sign paperwork, hand in your ID and pester them where appropriate. They will also have local insight which is a bonus. That being said it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust instructed your friend and on the whole were content that must trump using an unknown Ongar conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being based in the area.

My solicitors in Ongar have advised me that they can not locate my conveyancing file. To assist with my purchase I took out a mortgage with the bank. Is it case that being on the bank conveyancing panel they need to have retained the file for a prescribed period?

Different lenders have different requirements but many of the Terms and Conditions of Conveyancing Panel Appointment require the file to be held for a period of 6 years. That being said we have not seen a copy of the mortgage company Conveyancing Panel Terms. It might be worth you contacting the lender directly.