Me and my partner are purchasing property in North London. My lawyer is not on the lender approved panel. Can I still use my North London conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the lender panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?

You have a couple of options available to you here

• Carry on with your preferred North London but your mortgage company will no doubt retain a from their approved list. This will result in additional charges and potential delay.
• Choose a new to act in the purchase, obviously checking they are on the bank conveyancing panel.
• Appeal to your to seek to join the lender panel

At what point will exchange of contracts take place for sale conveyancing in North London and am I required to attend the solicitors branch?

Where you are near to one of the conveyancing solicitors in North London you are welcome to come in to sign documents. However, the lender approved solicitors we recommend provide countrywide coverage for conveyancing and give as equally comprehensive and professional a job for you when dealing with you digitally. The executing of the contract is not when everything is set in stone. Signing on the dotted line simply enables the solicitor to exchange contracts at the suitable time, which will usually be very shortly after signing. The exchange process is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where an extended "chain" is involved, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in North London)to be in the office at the appropriate time.

About to purchase a new build flat in North London. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Set out below are examples of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in North London

Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Please supply a car parking plan. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision.

I have been recommended by a number of property agents in North London to select a property lawyer on your site. What’s the financial advantage for Estate Agents to offer your lawyers over another?

We refuse to offer any commission for pointing buyers and sellers to this site. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

Am I best advised to instruct a North London conveyancing lawyer based in the vicinity that I am buying? An old friend can carry out the legal work but his firm is located 200miles drive away.

The primary upside of using a local North London conveyancing practice is that you can visit the firm to execute paperwork, hand in your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. Having local North London know how is a benefit. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If other friends have used your friend and the majority were impressed that should surpass using an unfamiliar North London conveyancing solicitor just because they are based in the area.