My husband and I are purchasing a 3 bedroom flat in Buckhurst Hill with a mortgage. We would like to retain our Buckhurst Hill conveyancer, but the mortgage company says she’s not on their "panel". It seems we have little choice but to appoint one of the mortgage company panel conveyancing practices or keep our Buckhurst Hill conveyancer and pay for one of their panel lawyers to represent them. We regard this is inequitable; is there anything we can do?

No, not really. Your mortgage offer is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your Buckhurst Hill conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.

We see that you have a search directory identifying firms on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for our conveyancing in Buckhurst Hill?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Buckhurst Hill.

I am downsizing from our house in Buckhurst Hill and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. A high street Buckhurst Hill conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers instructed an online conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Buckhurst Hill. We have lived in Buckhurst Hill for 5 years we know of no issue. Should we contact our local Authority to get confirmation that the buyers are looking for.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer already. Are they able to advise? 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 health insurance to cover that same illness)

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified during conveyancing in Buckhurst Hill?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Buckhurst Hill. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

I see that you have a post code search directory identifying firms on the mortgage company conveyancing panel. Do Buckhurst Hill conveyancing companies pay you a commission if I appoint them for my own house purchase?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the bank conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Buckhurst Hill.