I am in the throes of porting my current homeowner mortgage to a BTL Halifax mortgage. I was told by my mortgage that I must appoint a conveyancer for this. I spoke to my previous Harringay conveyancing solicitor who acted on my behalf when I initially purchased the property. The fee calculation provided of £450 plus VAT is surprising as I am not require purchase conveyancing - it’s just a bog-standard refinance.

The estimate fees seem a bit high. Where you are prepared to expend time scrutinising charges you may be able to shave off some of the cost by perhaps £125. On the other hand, if you were pleased with the conveyancing the firm offered you mightlive to regret choosing an an unknown lawyer. Remember to ensure that the solicitor can also act for Halifax. Do employ our search tool to find a Harringay conveyancing firm on the Halifax approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Harringay.

We are a couple about to exchange contracts for a property in Harringay. We encountered a problem. Our mortgage offer with Britannia runs out on 20/3/2025 but the sellers are suggesting a completion date of 24/3/2025. Is it possible to prolong the mortgage expiry date?

The best person to deal with your concern is your lawyer who will assess if they corresponding with the mortgage broker, seller’s conveyancers, property agents or indeed all three taking into account the history of your conveyancing as of today.

Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Harringay costs more?

Harringay leasehold properties involve far more paperwork than a freehold purchase, and therefore takes more time to examine and advise upon.Conveyancing will involve the lease having to be checked which is usually a lengthy document, queries raised to ensure that the covenants and conditions have been observed. If it is a flat there will be a management company in existence and the accounts of this will need to be checked and enquiries raised to ensure it is operating efficiently and that all monies due have been paid by the Seller to the company and if not ensuring that money is paid up to date or the appropriate undertakings obtained.

Should our conveyancer be raising questions regarding flooding during the conveyancing in Harringay.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for lawyers carrying out conveyancing in Harringay. There are those who buy a house in Harringay, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical destruction, where a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, adequate building insurance, or sell the property. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.

Conveyancers are not qualified to give advice on flood risk, but there are a number of checks that may be initiated by the purchaser or by their conveyancers which can give them a better understanding of the risks in Harringay. The conventional set of property information forms given to a purchaser’s lawyer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) incorporates a standard inquiry of the seller to determine whether the property has suffered from flooding. In the event that the premises has been flooded in past and is not notified by the owner, then a purchaser may issue a legal claim for losses resulting from an incorrect answer. The buyer’s solicitors may also conduct an environmental report. This should disclose whether there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed investigations will need to be initiated.

I have selected a Harringay conveyancing solicitor for our home move (FTB’s) and have picked up in the terms and conditions that they are not covered by the FCA. Am I right to be concerned or is that usually the case with conveyancing practitioner?

We can't see why they should be. Most property lawyer don't lend money. You should check that they are governed by the SRA, who dictate specific stipulations in relation to funds held on client account.