My wife and I are looking to buy a house in Hackney and have instructed a Hackney conveyancing firm. Within the last couple of days our solicitor has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Yorkshire Building Society have this afternoon contacted us to inform me that they have now hit a problem as our Hackney lawyer is not on their approved list of lawyers. What do we do from here?

If you are buying a property requiring a mortgage it is normal for the purchasers' solicitors to also act for the mortgage company. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your solicitor should contact your bank and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own solicitors to act. You don't have to instruct a firm on the bank's conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred Hackney lawyers, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.

I am the registered owner of a freehold residence in Hackney yet pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Hackney and has limited impact for conveyancing in Hackney 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 have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the creation of new rentcharges post 1977.

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

I am buying a house and require a conveyancing solicitor in Hackney who is on the Nottingham Building Society solicitor. Can you recommend a local solicitor?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Nottingham Building Society in certain locations such as Hackney. We dont recommend any particular firm.

My company is wishing to lease a unit on the high street. Can you recommend conveyancers offering no-move-no charges for non-domestic conveyancing in Hackney for under £2000?

We can recommend firms who have an in-depth of experience of commercial conveyancing in Hackney, including the disposal and purchase of businesses as well as simply property. If you are hoping to buy or sell a shop, pub, restaurant, office, retail premises or a whole business we can find you the right solicitor. Regarding the costs these will vary based on the structure and heads of terms of the deal. Please provide us with your details or telephone so as to enable us to furnish you with comprehensive commercial conveyancing quote.

I am looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Hackney for my remortgage. Can I see a solicitor's record with the profession’s regulator?

You can review documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions resulting from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a solicitors record, ring 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. International callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA may recorded call for training reasons.