I am expecting a mortgage with Halifax. I intend to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer in Peterlee. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel allow for Licensed Conveyancers?

The Halifax conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, associated to the CML or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

I am buying a new build apartment in Peterlee. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Here are examples of a few leasehold new build questions that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Peterlee

Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme.

I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and identified one near me in Peterlee I like with amenity areas and railway links in the vicinity, however it only has 61 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Peterlee in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you could ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this.

Taking into account that I am about to part with £400,000 on a house in Peterlee I wish to have a conversation with the lawyer regarding thehome move in advance of instructing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?

Absolutely - we would be delighted to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the solicitor who will be doing your property ownership legalities in Peterlee.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique individual, not a case number. The solicitors that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are quoted for residential conveyancing in Peterlee should be the amount on the final invoice that you end up paying.

We're FTB’s - agreed a price, yet the selling agent informed us that the seller will only go ahead if we appoint the agent's preferred conveyancers as they want a ‘quick sale’. Our preferred option is to instruct a high street solicitor with experience of conveyancing in Peterlee

We suspect that the seller is not behind this request. Should the owner desire ‘a quick sale', turning down a motivated purchaser is going to damage their objectives. Speak to the vendors direct and explain that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to go, with finances in place © you are chain free (d) you wish to move quickly (e)however you intend to instruct your own,trusted Peterlee conveyancing firm - not the ones that will provide their estate agent a introducer fee or hit his conveyancing targets set by senior management.