I plan on buying property in Hook. My lawyer is not listed on the mortgage company solicitor panel. Can I still use my Hook conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the bank approved list?

One will need to use a lawyer to complete the formalities if you take out a loan to buy your property. They will conduct all the necessary legal checks on the property, make sure that you will be registered as proprietor and ensure that all the required mortgage documentation is dealt with. You can select a Hook conveyancing practitioner of your choosing. However, if the conveyancer appointed is not a member of the mortgage company approved list further charges will be levied as separate legal representation will be required by them. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so where your solicitor has not in the past applied for membership they should take the opportunity to apply.

We are purchasing our first home. Our lawyer has contact usto see if we wish to order supplemental conveyancing searches. Frankly we have no idea as to what's recommended for conveyancing in Hook

The quantity and type of Hook conveyancing searches depends entirely on the premises, the location, the probability of any of these risks, your familiarity of the locality and risks, your general attitude to risk. What matters is that you adequately appreciate what information each search could provide. Then you can decide if you personally think you need that search. Should you be unclear, ask your solicitor to advise.

What is the optimum way to check that the solicitor handling my conveyancing in Hook is on the lender’sapproved panel? I am looking to avoid the situation of having one lawyer for me and one for National Westminster Bank thus paying £187.00 plus VAT in supplemental legal costs.

Feel free to take advantage of the find a lender approved solicitor tool on this page. Please choose the lender and type ‘Hook’ or your preferred area and you will be presented with numerous solicitors offices in Hook or nearest you.

Do I need to pay for insurance to cover chancel repairs when acquiring a house in Hook?

Unless a prior acquisition of the premises took place after 12 October 2013 you can take it that conveyancing practitioners conducting conveyancing in Hook to remain recommending a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

I am looking for a flat up to £305k and found one close by in Hook I like with amenity areas and railway links nearby, however it's only got 52 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Hook in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?

Should you require a home loan the shortness of the lease may be an issue. Reduce the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for at least twenty four months you may request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this.