When does exchange of contracts occur in sale conveyancing in Wolston and do I need to be at the conveyancers office?

Where you are in close proximity to one of the conveyancing solicitors in Wolston you are welcome to attend to sign documents. However, the lender approved solicitors we work with supply a countrywide conveyancing service and give just as comprehensive and professional a job for you when dealing with you electronically. The executing of the purchase agreement is not when everything is set in stone. Signing on the dotted line is necessary for the conveyancer to officially exchange at the suitable time, which is ordinarily shortly after signing. The procedure is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where a long "chain" is in play, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Wolston)to be in the office available at the end of the phone to exchange contracts.

We are getting the release of further funds on our home loan from Clydesdale as we wish to conduct improvements to our house in Wolston. Do we need to choose a high street Wolston solicitor on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?

Clydesdale don't usually instruct a member of their approved list of lawyers to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Clydesdale panel.

I am buying a property in Wolston. An unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Kent Reliance be concerned?

As you are obtaining a mortgage with Kent Reliance your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing requirements set out in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Kent Reliance. The CML Handbook stipulates minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and lawyers are required to report to Kent Reliance where a lease does not meet these requirements. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not isolated to Wolston.

I have today made my last payment due on my mortgage with Aldermore. I assume I don't need a Wolston property lawyer on the Aldermore panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your Aldermore mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Aldermore mortgage from the register. Aldermore, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:

1. but are not moving to another property
2. where Aldermore has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. Aldermore has instructed the Land Registry to do so

I purchased a terraced Victorian property in Wolston. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Halifax. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be 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 Wolston and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also check the position with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the conveyancing.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one near me in Wolston I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, however it's only got 49 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Wolston in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?

If you need a mortgage that many years will be problematic. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you can request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this.

My husband and I are FTB’s - agreed a price, yet the property agent advised that the owners will only go ahead if we appoint the agent's chosen solicitors as they want a ‘quick sale’. Our preferred option is to instruct a high street solicitor with experience of conveyancing in Wolston

It is highly unlikely the vendors are driving this. If they want ‘a quick sale', alienating a serious purchaser is is going to put the whole deal at risk. Contact the owners directly and explain that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to progress, with finances arranged © you do not need to sell (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you will continue to instruct your preferred Wolston conveyancing solicitors - not the ones that will give their negotiator at the agency a commission or meet his conveyancing figures demanded by HQ.