My solicitor has uncovered a a legal deficiency with the lease for the flat we are buying in Oxton. The seller’s lawyers have suggested defective title insurance as a solution. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our conveyancer has advised that he must ensure that the mortgage company is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is the bank?

The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the risk of a conflict of interest, you and the lender are the client. Your conveyancing practitioner must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects with the lease so that the bank can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.

As someone unfamiliar with conveyancing in Oxton what’s your top tip you can give me concerning the ownership transfer in Oxton

You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Oxton and elsewhere in England and Wales is often a confrontational experience. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there exists lots of opportunity for conflict between you and other parties involved in the legal transfer of property. E.g., the seller, estate agent and sometimes the bank. Appointing a lawyer for your conveyancing in Oxton should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the SOLE person in the legal process whose responsibility is to act in your legal interests and to protect you.

On occasion a potential adversary may try and sway you that you should follow their advice. For instance, the estate agent may claim to be helping by suggesting your solicitor is slow. Or your financial adviser may tell you to do something that is against your lawyers advice. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties in the conveyancing process.

Is it necessary to take out insurance to cover chancel repairs when buying a property in Oxton?

Unless a previous acquisition of the house took place post 12 October 2013 you may assume that lawyers carrying out conveyancing in Oxton to continue to suggest a chancel search and or chancel repair liability insurance.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Oxton. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here are examples of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Oxton

Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Please supply evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry.

I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing practitioner in Oxton for my house move. Is there any facility to check a solicitor's complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

Members of the public may read published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations arising from inquisitions commenced on or after Jan 2008. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For information Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, ring 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. International callers, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA sometimes recorded call for training reasons.