I had a mortgage agreed in principle with Nationwide. Westerham conveyancing solicitors have been instructed. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Nationwide?

There is no definitive answer here. Have Nationwide conducted the valuation? Have you advised Nationwide as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Nationwide conveyancing panel? Sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued.

I have a mortgage with Aldermore for my property in Westerham. Conveyancing has been completed months ago. In the event that I decide to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a BTL mortgage or inform Aldermore?

You must advise Aldermore before renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Aldermore’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Aldermore will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Aldermore directly. You need not do this via a Aldermore conveyancing panel firm.

I recently had an offer accepted on an apartment in Westerham. My financial adviser pressured me to appoint their property lawyer. I paid an advanced payment of £175. A few days later, the solicitor contacted me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Aldermore panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

Should commercial conveyancing searches disclose planned roadworks that may impact a commercial estate in Westerham?

Its becoming the norm that commercial conveyancing solicitors in Westerham will carry out a SiteSolutions Highways report as it reduces the time that conveyancers spend in looking into accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Westerham. The report sets out definitive data on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Westerham.

For every commercial conveyancing transaction in Westerham it is critical to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. Failure to identify developments where adoption procedures have not been dealt with adequately can cause delays to Westerham commercial conveyancing transactions as well as present a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not carried out for residential conveyancing in Westerham.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build flat in Westerham. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Westerham

Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Please supply a car parking plan. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in last month in what should have been a quick, no chain conveyancing. Westerham is the location of the property. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Westerham are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Westerham you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Westerham 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 residence.

Is it the case that all Westerham conveyancers on every lender conveyancing panel?

You can use our search tool or you can drop into your local lender branch in Westerham. Chances are that they will be in a position to suggest some approved conveyancing solicitors in Westerham