My partner and I are planning on selling our property in Stoke Newington and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being built on contaminated land. A high street Stoke Newington lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers instructed an internet conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Stoke Newington. Having lived in Stoke Newington for many years we know that this is a non issue. Is it a good idea to get in touch with our local Authority to get clarification need.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You must check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same ailment)

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and found one round the corner in Stoke Newington I like with a park and station nearby, however it's only got 52 years on the lease. There is not much else in Stoke Newington for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be an issue. Discount the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for at least 2 years you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.

Is it possible to swap conveyancer as I need to instruct one who is on the Britannia conveyancing list. I instructed a high street conveyancing solicitor in Stoke Newington five minutes from me but he is not approved by Britannia

We will our best to assist in finding you a conveyancing solicitor in Stoke Newington on the Britannia panel. Please note that the conveyancers that we list do not pay us fee if you instruct them and are under regulation of the Solicitors Regulation Authority who regulate all conveyancing solicitors in Stoke Newington. In making use of the find a conveyancing solicitor tool on this website, you can scrutinise fees for conveyancing solicitors in Stoke Newington and beyond.

In my capacity as executor for the will of my uncle I am selling a property in Cardiff but reside in Stoke Newington. My lawyer (approximately 250 miles awayrequires that I sign a statutory declaration prior to completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing lawyer in Stoke Newington who can attest this legal document for me?

Technically speaking you are not likely to be required to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally any notary public or qualified solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are based in Stoke Newington

What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Stoke Newington conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Stoke Newington conveyancing firm) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggest that you make enquires with several firms including non Stoke Newington conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions could be useful:

How many lease extensions have they carried out in Stoke Newington in the last 12 months?

I have given up trying to purchase the freehold in Stoke Newington. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?

Where there is a missing landlord or where there is dispute about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the LVT to arrive at the price payable.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Stoke Newington premises is Lower Flat 16A Beatty Road in September 2012. The premium payable was £13,577. The terms of the lease has been agreed between the Applicants and the First Respondent and the Tribunal did not seek to disturb that agreement. This case related to 1 flat.