My wife and I are planning to acquire a flat in Waltham Forest and have appointed a Waltham Forest conveyancing firm. Within the past 48 hours our property lawyer has forwarded the sale agreement to be signed with a detailed report with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Leeds Building Society have this afternoon contacted us to advise us that they have now hit a problem as our Waltham Forest lawyer is not on their conveyancing panel. Is this a problem?

Where you are buying a property needing a mortgage it is conventional for the purchasers' lawyers to also represent the purchaser's lender. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your solicitor should contact your mortgage company and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You don't have to instruct a firm on the bank's conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred Waltham Forest lawyers, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.

I am the registered owner of a freehold residence in Waltham Forest but nevertheless charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Waltham Forest and has limited impact for conveyancing in Waltham Forest but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the creation of fresh rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 will be extinguished.

Do I need to have a meeting at the offices of the solicitor to execute the legal charge? If so, I will choose one who does conveyancing in Waltham Forest so that I can attend their offices when needed.

Nowadays approved lawyers for lenders undertake all of the work through Royal Mail, internet or over the phone. This means that they can undertake the conveyancing transaction regardless of where you live in England or Wales. That being said you can see if you can still book an appointment to visit conveyancing lawyer if just in case this is required.

We are selling our house in Waltham Forest and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. Any local conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers instructed a nationwide conveyancing practice as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Waltham Forest. Having lived in Waltham Forest for six years we know of no issue. Should we get in touch with our local Authority to seek confirmation that the buyers are looking for.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm 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 life insurance to cover that same ailment)

Do I need to be concerned that estate agents that I am dealing with are recommending a nationwide conveyancing firm as opposed to a High Street Waltham Forest conveyancing company?

As is the case with lots of professional services, often input from relatives can be extremely useful or valuable. But there are numerous people with a vested interest in a conveyancing deal; estate agents, mortgage brokers and mortgage companies might all recommend conveyancers to use. Sometimes these lawyers might be known to one of the organisations as experts in their field, but occasionally there may be a financial incentive behind the endorsement. You are at liberty to select your own lawyer. However, bear in mind that some banks specify a panel list of solicitors you have to use for the mortgage related work in your transaction.