Just been in touch with my conveyancing lawyer in Radcliffe who completed the legal work two years ago requesting a conveyancing estimate based on the same type of house move (a leasehold premises and a freehold premises) of similar values with a home loan from Platform Home Loans Ltd. It looks as though am now being charged double. Should I hunt for an alternative conveyancer?

The quote is slightly on the expensive side. If you are content to spend time contrasting prices you could reduce the fees marginally by perhaps £125. That being said, providing that you were pleased with the conveyancing the firm gave you couldlive to regret choosing an a cheaper conveyancer. Don't forget to enquire that the conveyancer can also act for Platform Home Loans Ltd. Do make use of our search tool to choose a Radcliffe conveyancing firm on the Platform Home Loans Ltd conveyancing panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Radcliffe.

Me and my wife are buying our first property. The property lawyer has calledto check if we wish to purchase supplemental conveyancing searches. As novices we in the dark as to what's recommended for conveyancing in Radcliffe

The quantity and type of Radcliffe conveyancing searches depends primarily on the property, the location, the possibility of any of these risks, your familiarity of the region and risks, your overall attitude to risk. What matters is that you properly understand what information the searches could give you. Then you can decide if you consider that you need that information. Where you are uncertain, ask your property lawyer to guide you.

This question may be naive but I am wet behind the ears as a 1st time buyer of a two bedroom flat in Radcliffe. Do I pick up the keys to the house on completion from my solicitor? If so, I will find a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Radcliffe?

There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Your solicitors will electronically transfer the purchase money to the owner’s solicitors, and once they have received this, you should be able to receive the keys from the Estate Agents and start moving into the property. This tends to happen between 1 and 3pm.

We previously chose conveyancing lawyers with offices in Radcliffe on the Nottingham solicitor panel. They are now charging me a further fee for the legal aspects of the Nottingham mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Nottingham?

As unfair as it may seem, as long as it’s in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your conveyancing practitioner may levy a fee for this. The charge is not set by Nottingham but by your Radcliffe solicitor. Numerous firms on the Nottingham panel will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Radcliffe off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Leeds Building Society. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Leeds Building Society, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel.

I opted to have a survey done on a property in Radcliffe before retaining lawyers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold element to the property. My surveyor advised that some lenders tend refuse to issue a mortgage on this type of premises.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different instructions from Birmingham Midshires. If you e-mail us we can look into this further with the appropriate bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Radcliffe. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Radcliffe to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.

We're FTB’s - had an offer accepted, yet the agent told us that the vendor will only issue a contract if we instruct their chosen lawyers as they need a ‘quick sale’. My instinct tells me that we should use a high street conveyancer with experience of conveyancing in Radcliffe

It is highly unlikely the owners are behind this. If they require ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a motivated buyer is going to damage their objectives. Avoid the agents and go straight to the owners and make the point that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are excited to move forward, with finances in place © you do not need to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you will continue to use your own,trusted Radcliffe conveyancing lawyers - not the ones that will give the negotiator at the agency a commission or achieve conveyancing targets set by head office.