My brother-in-law has suggested I instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Walton on the Hill. I need to find out whether they are on the conveyancing panel. Could you or the lender confirm if they are on the panel?

You should call the lawyer and ask them if they are on the lender panel. Alternatively you should call who may be able to assist.

My wife and I purchased a 4 bedroom Victorian property in Walton on the Hill. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and . I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold under the matching property. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

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 owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Walton on the Hill and other locations in 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 purchasers. You can also check the situation with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the purchase.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in last month in what was supposed to be a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Walton on the Hill is where the house is located. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Walton on the Hill are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Walton on the Hill you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Walton on the Hill may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my business property in Walton on the Hill and how can your lawyers assist?

The particular law that you refer to provides a safeguard to business leaseholders, granting the right to make a request to court for a continuation of occupancy at the end of the lease term. There are limited grounds where a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing practices who use the act for protection and handle your commercial conveyancing in Walton on the Hill

My son is just in the process of moving home, the home loan was agreed last week in principle. When the seller agreed the offer on the house we called the mortgage institution to go forward with his. We were shocked to learn that banks do not accept all , they must be on their panel, is this correct?

Banks normally restrict either the type or the number of conveyancing firms on their panel. A common example of such restriction(s) being that a firm must have two or more partners. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to represent them. You should note that lenders have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any Walton on the Hill on their panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago and whilst there are differing views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms only carry out one or two conveyances a year. Those supporting conveyancing panel cuts ask why law firms should have the right to be on a Lender panel when clearly, conveyancing is not their speciality. To put it another way; would you want a conveyancing solicitor to represent you if you were charged with a crime? Unlikely.