We are buying a terrace house in Cookham. We would like to carry out a loft conversion at the property.Will the conveyancing process involve investigations to determine if these alterations were previously refused?

Your solicitor should review the registered title as conveyancing in Cookham can occasionally reveal restrictions in the title documents which restrict categories of changes or need the consent of a 3rd party. Some works need local authority planning consent and approval in accordance building regulations. Many locations are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which frequently prevent or impact extensions. You should check these things with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.

We are getting the release of further monies on our home loan from as we intend to conduct alterations to our house in Cookham. Do we need to select a high street Cookham solicitor on the conveyancing panel to handle the legals?

would not normally appoint firms on their conveyancing panel to deal with such a matter. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the panel.

Planning on purchasing a house in Cookham. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Cookham is on the conveyancing panel.

I am close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our home in Cookham and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. A high street Cookham lawyer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the purchasers instructed a factory type conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Cookham. We have lived in Cookham for many years we know that this is a non issue. Should we get in touch with our local Authority to seek clarification that the buyers are looking for.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing solicitor already. What do they say? You must 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 life insurance to cover that same sickness)

Me and my brother own a renovated Victorian property in Cookham. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and . I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are two entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold under the matching property. Is it worth asking to clarify?

You should read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for 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 Cookham and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also enquire as to the position with your conveyancing lawyer who completed the work.

Cookham Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries before buying

Is there a share of the freehold? Who are the managing agents?

Should one remove a departed person's name from the title register for a property in Cookham?

Where a Cookham property is co-owned and one of the owners passes away, the name will not automatically be removed from the Land Registry title. You are not required to amend the title as when it comes to a sale your lawyer would just need to evidence as to the reason the other proprietor is not included in the contract, normally this takes the form of a grant of probate.

With the aim of making the sale conveyancing more straight forward in the future you can arrange to have the deceased party erased from the title register by applying to HMLR with proof of the death. There is no land registry fee payable.