It is is a decade since I bought my home in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth. Conveyancing solicitors have now been retained on the sale but I can't locate my title documents. Is this a major issue?

Don’t worry too much. Firstly there is a chance that the deeds will be with your lender or they could be in the possession of the solicitor who oversaw the purchase. Secondly the chances are that the property will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you own the property by your conveyancing lawyers obtaining current official copies of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is not registered it is more tricky but is not insurmountable.

What does a local search tell me about the house I am buying in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth?

Chorleywood and Rickmansworth conveyancing often starts with the ordering local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search company for example Searches UK The local search plays a central role in most Chorleywood and Rickmansworth conveyancing purchase; that is if you wish to avoid any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search should reveal data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of thirteen subject headings.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £195,000 and identified one close by in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth I like with open areas and station nearby, however it's only got 61 years on the lease. There is not much else in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?

If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you could ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this.

Am I better off to appoint a Chorleywood and Rickmansworth conveyancing lawyer in close proximity to the house I am buying? We have a good friend who can deal with the legal formalities but his firm is located approximately 350kilometers drive away.

The primary upside of using a high street Chorleywood and Rickmansworth conveyancing firm is that you can attend the office to sign paperwork, deliver your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local intelligence which is a benefit. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who instructed your friend and on the whole were happy that should surpass using an unfamiliar Chorleywood and Rickmansworth conveyancing solicitor just because they are Chorleywood and Rickmansworth based.

There are plenty of properties in Chorleywood and Rickmansworth on unadopted roads. I am purchasing one such property. What would be the pros and cons of buying a residence on a privately owned road?

Chorleywood and Rickmansworth conveyancing firms will be familiar with dealing propertieson private. The solicitor should investigate title to identify any rights or responsibilities. In many cases there is a management company (wholly owned by residents) that residents make annual contributions to maintain the road. Where one exists, the road will likely be maintained and appear nicer than publicly maintained.