We are due to exchange on the purchase of a house in East Barnet but as a consequence of damage from some water damage at the property I have managed to agree reparation from the owner in the sum of £3k in the form of a adjustment in the price. I had intended this to be addressed as part of a side agreement yet Virgin Money are not allowing this. Should they have been notified?

Any conveyancing practitioner that is on a Virgin Money conveyancing panel is required to disclose to Virgin Money of any changes to the sale price. If you prohibit your property lawyer to disclose the reduction to Virgin Money then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, Virgin Money and you would have to appoint a new lawyer for your conveyancing in East Barnet.

As I am unsure how the conveyancing process works what is the most important number one tip you can give me concerning purchase conveyancing in East Barnet?

You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in East Barnet or throughout North London is often a confrontational process. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there exists lots of room for friction between you and other parties involved in the home moving process. E.g., the seller, selling agent and even potentially a lender. Appointing a solicitor for your conveyancing in East Barnet an important selection as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the SOLE person in the legal process whose interest is to look after your best interests and to keep you safe.

We are witnessing a distinct emergence of a "blame" culture- someone has to be at fault for the process taking so long. We recommend that you must always trust your lawyer ahead of the other parties when it comes to the legal transfer of property.

My lender has recommended a law firm on their panel based in East Barnet but I would rather instruct a conveyancing lawyer in East Barnet round the corner to me. Can you assist?

Far from all East Barnet conveyancing solicitors are listed all lender’s conveyancing panel. Use the above find an approved solicitor tool to locate a East Barnet conveyancing conveyancer on the on the bank panel.

I am assisting my sister sell her house in East Barnet. Does the conveyancer arrange the EPC or should I organise this?

After the demise of HIPs, energy assessments was left as a required part of moving property. An energy assessment must be to hand in advance of the property being marketed. It is not a task that conveyancers normally arrange. If you are instructing a East Barnet conveyancing lawyer they might be willing to arrange EPC’s due to their contacts with reputable local assessors

We previously appointed conveyancing lawyers based in East Barnet on the Santander solicitor panel. They have just billed me a separate sum for the legal aspects of the Santander mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Santander?

Provided it is contained in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitor is entitled to levy a fee for this. The charge is not set by Santander but by your East Barnet conveyancing practitioner. Some firms on the Santander panel will quote ’dealing with mortgage’ fee but some practices include it on their overall fee.

Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in East Barnet. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. How do I make a complaint?

Most banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Team at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.

Our conveyancer in East Barnet has requested from me personal identification documents asserting that this forms part of his retainer as a conveyancer on the bank Solicitor panel. Is this right?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require East Barnet conveyancing solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the identity of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing business. The Client Care letter that you need to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lawyer is right that the lender also require certain documents to be viewed. If a you refuse to provide ID verification documents, your conveyancer would not be able to accept instructions from you. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the lender's UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements