We are buying our first house. Our lawyer has texted usto check if we want to take out additional conveyancing searches. As novices we in the dark as to what's appropriate for conveyancing in Portland

The type of Portland conveyancing searches depends entirely on the property, the location, the probability of any of these risks, your knowledge of the area and risks, your overall attitude to risk. What is important is that you properly comprehend what information each search could give you. Then you can decide if you consider that you need that search. Where you are unclear, ask your conveyancing practitioner to guide you.

My wife and I have recently appointed a conveyancing solicitor in Portland. I need to find out if they are on the Santander conveyancing panel. Can you help?

The first thing you should do is contact your conveyancer and enquire if they are on the lender panel. Alternatively you should get in touch with Santander who may be able to assist.

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

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Portland. 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…’

I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £195,000 and identified one close by in Portland I like with amenity areas and transport links nearby, the downside is that it only has 52 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Portland in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a short lease?

If you require a home loan that many years may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the premises for at least twenty four months you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.

Are all Portland legal practices on every bank conveyancing panel?

You can use our search tool or you can drop into your local bank branch in Portland. the probability is that they will be in a position to suggest some approved conveyancing solicitors in Portland