My colleague advised me that if I am purchasing in Uppingham I should ask my conveyancer to carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?

This is a search is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Uppingham conveyancing searches. It is a large report of about 40 pages, listing and setting out significant information about Uppingham around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime details, Uppingham Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information regarding Uppingham.

My wife and I have a terraced Edwardian house in Uppingham. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and . I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be 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 Uppingham and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also enquire as to the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who carried out the work.

I was recommended by two or three local selling agents in Uppingham to get a quote from a solicitor using your seach tool. Is there a financial advantage for Estate Agents to recommend your site over another?

We don’t give any commission for pointing buyers and sellers our way. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission as home movers will think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

My father-in-law has recommend that I use his conveyancing solicitors in Uppingham. Do I take his guidance?

No doubt the best way to choose a conveyancing practitioner is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually experience in using the solicitor you're contemplating using.

We are about to purchasing a house in Uppingham. Conveyancing is not over but we would like keep the amount we are are buying for a secret from sites such as Zoopla. what can I do to ensure this is not disclosed?

HMLR are legally bound to note price sold data on a register of the title for residential properties nationwide including premises in Uppingham. The register of ownership is an open document, so HMLR would be breaking the law excluded specific homes such as your property in Uppingham.

You can make a request of HM Land Registry to hide the amount paid data however the answer would be a No.