I had intended to instruct a property lawyer in Westbury for our house move. Our financial adviser has since notified us that our bank Barclays won't deal with them. Surely this is unduly restrictive?

A lender can direct that an approved conveyancer act for it. You would be expected to meet the cost of this. Try using our database to find a solicitor to carry conveyancing in Westbury on the Barclays member panel.

We are purchasing a property and the lawyer has referenced Chancel Repair for which the house could be liable given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. He has mentioned insurance. Is this strictly appropriate for conveyancing in Westbury

Unless a prior acquisition of the property took place post 12 October 2013 you could take it that solicitors handling conveyancing in Westbury to continue to propose a a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in two weeks back in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. Westbury is the location of the property. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Westbury are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Westbury you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Westbury may decide 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.

I'm refinancing my primary property to a buy to let loan with Barclays and intend to use the remaining equity as a down payment on a second house. The area we are looking at is Westbury. Will your lawyers be able to act for both sets of banks and link together the conveyances?

Do use our search tool on this page to check that the conveyancers are approved by both mortgage companies. Having checked that they are your lawyer will be able to connect the two deals but you should have a chat with you conveyancer and make apparent your desired outcome and needs.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Westbury. Conveyancing and Nationwide Building Society mortgage organised. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1998. The conveyancing solicitor in Westbury who previously acted has now retired. What should I do?

First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. You do not need to incur the fees of a Westbury conveyancing practitioner to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

I bought a 1st floor flat in Westbury, conveyancing was carried out in 2007. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Comparable flats in Westbury with over 90 years remaining are worth £202,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £60 per annum. The lease ends on 21st October 2083

With 57 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to be between £28,500 and £33,000 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.