I had intended to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Weybridge for our home move. Our broker informed us that our mortgage lenders Aldermore won't deal with them. Why is this not regarded as unduly restrictive?

Banks normally restrict either the type or the number of conveyancing solicitors on their panel. A common example of such criteria being that a law practice must have two or more partners. As well as restricting the profile of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to act for them. Be aware that Aldermore have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of Aldermore Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a primary driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago even though there remains differing opinions concerning the level of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Data from the Land Registry indicate that thousands of law firms, including some in or near Weybridge only carry out very few conveyances a year.

Is it necessary to pay for insurance to cover chancel repairs when buying a residence in Weybridge?

Unless a previous acquisition of the house took place after 12 October 2013 you may expect lawyers conducting conveyancing in Weybridge to continue to suggest a chancel search and or chancel repair liability insurance.

I used Wolstenholmes a few years ago for my conveyancing in Weybridge. I now require my papers but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Weybridge of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Weybridge ahead of retaining lawyers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. Our surveyor advised that some banks will refuse to give a loan on such a property.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different instructions for example to Halifax. If you contact us we can check via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Weybridge. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Weybridge to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Weybridge conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Weybridge conveyancing practice) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggest that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Weybridge conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions could be useful:

How familiar is the practice with lease extension legislation?

Having spent months of correspondence we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Weybridge. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a Weybridge conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Weybridge residence is 147 Redford Close in June 2012. The Tribunal determined the lease extension premium to be at £4,200 This case related to 1 flat. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 82.93 years.