My grandmother passed away last year and as sole heir and executor I was left the house in Canterbury. The house had a small mortgage left on it of around £5k. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Coventry BS, pay off the mortgage. Is this allowed?

If you intend to refinance then Coventry BS will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Coventry BS conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Coventry BS mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.

I am intent on selling our property in Canterbury and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being constructed land that was not decontaminated. A local conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the buyers instructed a nationwide conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Canterbury. Having lived in Canterbury for six years we know that this is a non issue. Do we get in touch with our local Authority to seek clarification need.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You should 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 life insurance to cover that same sickness)

Have completed on a a detached house in Canterbury , how long should it take for the Land Registry to record my title? My Canterbury conveyancing solicitor has been very slow, so I want to check that my purchase is recorded.

There is nothing unique when it comes to conveyancing in Canterbury registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timescales can adjust depending on the party submitting the application, whether there are errors and whether the Land registry communicate with any other parties. As of today in the region of 80% of such applications are fully addressed within 12 days but some can be subject to protracted hold-ups. Registration occurs after the new owner is living at the premises thus 'speed' is not always primary concern but where there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your solicitor could contact the land registry and explain the circumstances.

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Canterbury. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the remaining lease term.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Canterbury - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title. For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Canterbury - A selection of Questions you should ask before buying

It is important to be aware whether redecorating or some other significant cost is pending to be shared amongst the tenants and may well materially increase the the service costs or necessitate a one time invoice. What restrictions are there in the Canterbury Lease? How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments?

Me and my wife are selling a Canterbury bungalow left to us 5 years ago in 2009. I have over a decades worth of conveyancing know-how and, now retired, intend to carry out my own legal work. The buyer's lawyer has informed me that their building society will not allow you to do your own conveyancing insisting the funds to be released via a solicitor's bank account.

Mortgage instructions to solicitors from all CML members specify that If the seller is not legally represented the buyer’s lawyers should check whether the lender needs to be told so that a decision can be made if they are willing to progress.