We are acquiring our first property. Our lawyer has contact usto check if we would like to take out supplemental conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's appropriate for conveyancing in Bude

The type of Bude conveyancing searches should be triggered based entirely on the property, the location, the probability of any of these risks, your familiarity of the area and risks, your general attitude to risk. What matters is that you adequately comprehend what information each search could give you. Then you can make a decision if you personally think you need that search. Where you are unclear, ask your conveyancer to guide you.

I own a 4 bedroom Victorian house in Bude. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Bank of Scotland. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You should assess 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 owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Bude and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also question the situation with your conveyancing lawyer who completed the work.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £305k and found one round the corner in Bude I like with open areas and railway links nearby, the downside is that it's only got 52 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Bude suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease will be an issue. Reduce the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor about this.

How difficult is it to transfer to a new conveyancer as I need to instruct a firm on the Godiva Mortgages Ltd conveyancing panel. I hired a family conveyancing solicitor in Bude five minutes from me but the firm is not approved by Godiva Mortgages Ltd

We will our best to assist in finding you a conveyancing solicitor in Bude on the Godiva Mortgages Ltd panel. Please note that the solicitors that we on the directory do not pay us commission if you instruct them and are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority who oversee all conveyancing solicitors in Bude. In making use of search facility on this page, you can compare and instruct different solicitors and conveyancers both nationally and in Bude.

My partner has urged me to instruct his lawyers for conveyancing in Bude. Do I follow his guidance?

There are no two ways about it it’s preferable to find a conveyancing solicitor is to get feedback from friends or family who have used the solicitor you're contemplating using.