We are a couple about to sign contracts for a freehold house in Isle Of Wight. We have hit a problem. Our loan offer with runs out on but the vendors are putting forward a completion date of . Is it possible to prolong the mortgage offer?

The best person to deal with your issue is your lawyer who will hopefully assess whether they should be discussing with the lender, owner’s lawyers, selling agents or conceivably all three given the circumstances your conveyancing as of today.

A colleague advised me that in purchasing a property in Isle Of Wight there may be various restrictions prohibiting external alterations to a property. Is this right?

There are a number of properties in Isle Of Wight which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to execute external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Isle Of Wight should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Isle Of Wight. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender be concerned?

As you are obtaining a mortgage with your lawyer must follow the formal requirements contained in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for . The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook sets out minimum conditions for solar panel roof-space leases, and are required to report to where a lease fails to satisfy these specifications. The conditions relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not isolated to Isle Of Wight.

I have paid off my mortgage with . I assume I don't need a Isle Of Wight on the panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?

If you have finished paying off your 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 mortgage from the register. , 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 has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. has instructed the Land Registry to do so

The deeds to my house can not be found. The lawyers who did the conveyancing in Isle Of Wight 5 years ago are no longer around. What are my next steps?

You no longer need to hold title official documentation to establish that you own the land or premises, given that the Land Registry have everything they need in a digital format.

How does conveyancing in Isle Of Wight differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Isle Of Wight approach us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is finished. This is because developers in Isle Of Wight tend to buy the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Isle Of Wight or who has acted in the same development.

Do I cancel my mortgage payments with as soon as a completion date for my sale in Isle Of Wight has been agreed?

You are best advised to maintain meeting any mortgage payments to until the mortgage is repaid on completion as part of your Isle Of Wight conveyancing.