The vendors of the property we are hoping to buy hired a conveyancing firm in Tetbury who has recommended a lock out agreement with a payment 6,000. Are such agreements promoted for Tetbury conveyancing transactions?

This type of preliminary agreement is not the norm in Tetbury, conveyancers are not keen on them as they divert attention from the main conveyancing focus and if you end up losing your deposit then the lawyer at best left with an upset client and at worst a litigious one. Secondly, there is no assurance that just because the proprietor has entered into an exclusivity contract they will sell to you. They may be tempted to break the agreement if they receive a big enough financial inducement to do so because an aggrieved party with the benefit of a lockout agreement will still have to establish consequential losses from the breach and this may not amount to the financial upside that the owner may secure by breaching the contract, however morally condemnable it undoubtedly is.

We are downsizing from our property in Tetbury and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. Any local conveyancer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the purchasers are using a nationwide conveyancing outfit rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Tetbury. We have lived in Tetbury for six years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to get clarification that the buyers are looking for.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing lawyer already. What do they say? You should enquire of 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 health insurance to cover that same illness)

Me and my brother own a renovated Victorian house in Tetbury. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Godiva Mortgages Ltd. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You need to assess 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 Tetbury and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also enquire as to the position with the conveyancing solicitor who conducted the purchase.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I have offered on last month in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. Tetbury is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Tetbury are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Tetbury you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Tetbury may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

What is the reason for new build conveyancing in Tetbury being more expensive?

Conveyancing in Tetbury for newly converted or new build homes usually involve adoption of highways & drains, building regulations approval, planning permission, new build warranties such NHBC as well as additional queries and contractual concerns.