It is is a decade since I acquired my home in Workington. Conveyancing solicitors have recently been instructed on the sale but I can't find the title documents. Is this a problem?

Don’t worry too much. Firstly the deeds may be kept by the mortgage company or they could be in the possession of the solicitor who acted in the purchase. Secondly in all probability the property will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing lawyers obtaining current official copies of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Workington relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is not registered it adds to the complexity but is not insurmountable.

I got the keys to my house on 14 July and the transaction details is yet to be registered. Need I be worried? My conveyancing solicitor in Workington expressed confidence that it should be formalised in a couple of weeks. Are titles in Workington particularly slow to register?

As far as conveyancing in Workington registration is no quicker or slower than anywhere else in England and Wales. Rather than based on location, timescales can adjust subject to the party submitting the application, whether there are errors and whether the Land registry must send notices to any third parties. At present in the region of three quarters of such applications are completed in less than three weeks but some can be subject to extensive hold-ups. Historically registration is effected after the purchaser is living at the property therefore post completion formalities is not usually primary concern but where there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your conveyancer must communicate with the Registry to express the reasoning for an expedited registration.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £195,000 and found one round the corner in Workington I like with open areas and transport links nearby, however it's only got 51 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Workington in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?

Should you require a mortgage that many years may be problematic. Discount the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you could ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this.

I need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor for some conveyancing in Workington. I happened to land on a site which appears to be the perfect solution If there is a chance to get all formalities done via web that would be preferable. Should I be wary? What should out be looking out for?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

Leasehold Conveyancing in Workington - A selection of Queries before Purchasing

How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments? How many years are left on the lease? Does the lease include onerous restrictions?