It is a dozen years since I acquired my home in Woodbridge. Conveyancing solicitors have just been appointed on the sale but I am unable to locate the deeds. Will this jeopardise the sale?

You need not be too concerned. Firstly the deeds may be with your mortgage company or they may be in the possession of the lawyers who handled your purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the property will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring current official copies of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Woodbridge relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is not insurmountable.

We are downsizing from our house in Woodbridge and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was built land that was not decontaminated. A high street Woodbridge lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the buyers instructed a national conveyancing practice as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Woodbridge. Having lived in Woodbridge for three years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to get in touch with our local Authority to seek confirmation need.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. What do they say? You should check with 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 health insurance to cover that same illness)

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Woodbridge?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Woodbridge. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

Is it best to appoint a Woodbridge conveyancing solicitor based in the location that I am purchasing? We have a good friend who can execute the legal work however his firm is located 400miles away.

The benefit of a local Woodbridge conveyancing practice is that you can attend the office to sign paperwork, present your ID and pester them if necessary. Having local Woodbridge know how is a plus. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who used your friend and they were happy that should outweigh using an unfamiliar Woodbridge conveyancing solicitor just because they are round the corner.

Are all Woodbridge solicitors on every lender conveyancing panel?

You can use our search tool or you can go into your local lender branch in Woodbridge. the probability is that they will know some good conveyancing solicitors in Woodbridge