Having sold my house in Kensal Rise last June but the buyer keeps texting me to moan that their conveyancer needs to hear from mine. What are the post completion sale formalities following completion?

Following your house sale your solicitor should deliver the transfer documentation and all supplemental paperwork to the buyer’s solicitors. Where relevant, your lawyer should also confirm that the legal charge in favour of the lender has been discharged to the purchasers solicitors. There are no post completion steps peculiar conveyancing in Kensal Rise.

Is it the case that all Kensal Rise solicitor practices on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel are governed by the SRA?

As solicitors, in order to be on the Virgin Money approved list of solicitors they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many banks do list licenced conveyancers on their panel and in that case the organisation would be overseen by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Kensal Rise off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Skipton. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Skipton, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Skipton conveyancing panel.

I can not fathom if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension. I have called my Kensal Rise building society branch on various occasions and was informed it wasn't an issue and they will lend. My Kensal Rise conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- telephoned to say that they refuse to lend based on their specific requirements. Who do I believe?

As long as the conveyancer is on the mortgage company panel, she or he must comply with the CML Handbook specifications for the bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.

About to purchase a new build apartment in Kensal Rise. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.

Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Kensal Rise

Please supply evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier?

I have been pointed in your direction by a few property agents in Kensal Rise to locate a property lawyer using your seach tool. Is there a financial upside for Estate Agents to recommend your site rather than alternative conveyancing organisations?

We don’t give any referral fee for pointing buyers and sellers to this site. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission because members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not getting any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

What are my options where I am not happy with the conveyancing practitioner who handled my conveyancing in Kensal Rise?

We live in an imperfect world, and unfortunately every so often things do go wrong. That being said there is recourse where you were dissatisfied with your conveyancing in Kensal Rise. This varies from trying to resolve matters directly with them, through to reporting a lawyer to their governing body. If things still aren’t sorted out you may consider getting in touch with the Legal Ombudsman.