I am in the process of mortgaging my apartment in Port Isaac, does my lawyer need to be on the Barclays Solicitor panel?

There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor, but Barclays will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is much more potential for delays and confusion with an additional lawyer added to the mix, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.

is it true that all Port Isaac conveyancing solicitors on the Aldermore conveyancing panel are governed by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?

As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Aldermore approved list of solicitors they would need to be governed by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. The majority of banks do permit licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be overseen by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

I am purchasing a property in Port Isaac. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Principality be concerned?

Given that your lender is Principality your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing instructions outlined in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Principality. The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancing practitioners are required to report to Principality where a lease fails to meet these provisions. The conditions relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not isolated to Port Isaac.

I currently have a mortgage with Barclays for my property in Port Isaac. Conveyancing has been completed some time ago. In the event that I decide to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Barclays?

You must advise Barclays in advance of renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Barclays’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Barclays directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Barclays conveyancing panel lawyer.

Me and my brother own a semi-detached Victorian house in Port Isaac. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and The Royal Bank of Scotland. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Port Isaac and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also enquire as to the position with the conveyancing solicitor who completed the work.

I need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor for remortgage conveyancing in Port Isaac. I have chance upon a site which looks to be the perfect solution If there is a chance to get all formalities completed via web that would be ideal. Should I be wary? What are the potential pitfalls?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

What is the distinction between surveying and conveyancing in Port Isaac?

Conveyancing - in Port Isaac or anywhere in England and Wales - is the legal term given to transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It therefore includes the checking of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you are purchasing and will help you find out about the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you leverage for negotiating the purchase price down or asking the seller to remedy the problems prior to you complete your move.