I was advised yesterday by my estate agent that my Mapperley solicitor is not on the mortgage company Solicitor panel. How can I be certain whether this is indeed the case?

The first thing you need to do is to contact your Mapperley conveyancer. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to advise you of the situation. Where they are not on the panel they may recommend you to a Mapperley conveyancing practice that is on the conveyancing panel for your mortgage company.

IfI was to buy a simple residential housein Mapperley mortgage fee and dispense with a survey and no conveyancing searches how much would I expect to have to pay for conveyancing in Mapperley?

Any savings you would achieve will be isolated to the disbursement for searches. Your conveyancer still got to do everything else - money laundering, correspond with your vendors conveyancer, stamp duty submission, register the property etc. A slight saving might be made by not having to register a charge however it won't be a lot.

I purchased a freehold residence in Mapperley but nevertheless invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Mapperley and has limited impact for conveyancing in Mapperley 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 generation of fresh rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 will be dispensed with completely.

I completed on my apartment on 5 January and the transaction details is not yet registered. Need I be worried? My conveyancing solicitor in Mapperley said it should be registered in a couple of weeks. Are transfers in Mapperley uniquely lengthy to register?

As far as conveyancing in Mapperley registration is no faster or slower than anywhere else in England and Wales. Rather than based on location, timeframes can differ according to who lodges the application, whether it is in order and whether the Land registry need to notify any third persons or bodies. As of today roughly three quarters of submission are completed in less than three weeks but occasionally there can be longer delays. Registration is effected once the new owner is living at the premises therefore an expedited registration is not usually primary concern but if there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your lawyers must speak with the land registry and explain the circumstances.

Should I be suspicious by 3rd parties that I am dealing with are recommending an internet conveyancing firm rather than a local Mapperley conveyancing practice?

As with many service providers, often input from family and friends can be most helpful. Yet there are lots of players in a conveyancing deal; estate agents, mortgage brokers and banks might all suggest solicitors to choose. Sometimes the lawyers might be known to one of the organisations as one of the best in their field, but sometimes there is an underlying financial incentive behind the endorsement. You have the discretion to appoint your preferred conveyancer. Don't forget that most lenders operate an approved list of lawyers you must use for the mortgage aspect of your home move.