I am the registered owner of a freehold premises in Hatton Park but still charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in Hatton Park and has limited impact for conveyancing in Hatton Park 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 many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of fresh rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

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

We're in Hatton Park, FTBs buying with a mortgage (lender is Santander , and our solicitor is on the Santander conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Santander conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no solicitor should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.

If you had a top tip for selecting a conveyancing solicitor in Hatton Park what would it be?

We would encourage you not to base your choice on the cheapest Hatton Park conveyancing quote. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to property lawyers. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you go into the conveyancing with your eyes wide open.

I am assisting my mother sell her house in Hatton Park. Will the conveyancer order an EPC or it is for the seller to coordinate?

Following the abolition of Home Information Packs, energy assessments was left as a mandatory component of selling a property. An EPC needs to be commissioned prior to the property being marketed. This is not something that lawyers ordinarily organise. Where you are instructing a Hatton Park conveyancing lawyer they might help arrange energy performance certificates due to their relationships with long established Hatton Park assessors

We expect to receive a OIP from Nottingham this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Nottingham recommend any Hatton Park solicitors on the Nottingham conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?

You will need to appoint Hatton Park solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Nottingham conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Nottingham through the process.

It has been five months following my purchase conveyancing in Hatton Park concluded. I have checked the Land Registry site which shows that I paid £200,000 when infact I paid £180,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the residence from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in two weeks back in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Hatton Park is the location of the property. Can you offer any opinion?

Flying freeholds in Hatton Park 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 Hatton Park you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Hatton Park may decide 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 property.