I am in the market for a low cost conveyancer. Should I go for for an online conveyancer as opposed to a high street Colwall conveyancing lawyer?

On the whole conveyancing practitioners in your location will have excellent relationships with your local authority, which could assist with the Colwall conveyancing searches that your lawyer will need to carry out. It also helps if they have existing relationships with the Land Registry in your area Colwall, other lawyers in the neighbourhood and Colwall Estate Agents.

I am the registered owner of a freehold residence in Colwall but still pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Colwall and has limited impact for conveyancing in Colwall but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the creation of fresh rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 will be dispensed with completely.

I have been told that property searches are the number one reason for stalling in Colwall house deals. Is there any truth in this?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the determinations of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the top 10 causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are unlikely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Colwall.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Colwall is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Colwall are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Colwall you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Colwall 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 premises.

I need to instruct a conveyancing lawyer in Colwall for my remortgage. Is there any facility to check a firm’s complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

Anyone can search for published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from inquisitions from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find information about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors history, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For non-uk callers, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator sometimes recorded call for training purposes.