I am hoping to receive a mortgage offer from Santander. My intention is to retain the legal services of a Licensed Conveyancer in Woolacombe. Does the Santander Conveyancing panel allow for Licensed Conveyancers?

The Santander approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Woolacombe? Is this really warranted?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering laws require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the identification documents of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing business. The Client Care letter that you need to sign will no doubt stipulate this. Your lender will also require certain documents to be viewed. If you are unwilling to hand over ID verification documents, your solicitor would not be able to accept instructions from you.

I have justbecome aware that Wolstenholmes have been shut down. They carried out my conveyancing in Woolacombe for a purchase of a leasehold apartment 9 months ago. How can I be sure that the property is registered correctly in the name of the previous owner?

The quickest method to check if the premises is in your name, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Woolacombe conveyancing specialists.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £305k and found one near me in Woolacombe I like with open areas and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Woolacombe suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?

If you require a mortgage that many years may be problematic. Reduce the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for at least twenty four months you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this.

My aunt completed her conveyancing in Woolacombe in 2007. She has since got married, divorced and in recent months got remarried. She wishes to sell the house next moths. I suspect that she will simply be asked to provide a copy of the marriage certificates to the lawyer but she is worried it could delay the conveyancing. Is it worth updating the Land Registry information for the house?

You are not required to bring up to date the register providing you have the evidence needed to demonstrate how the change of name occurred.

The buyer’s property lawyer should examine the land registry information and require evidence by way of proof of the change of name e.g. marriage documentation.