I am planning to acquire a property and need a conveyancing solicitor in Petersfield who is on the Coventry Building Society conveyancing. Can you recommend a local firm?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Coventry Building Society in certain locations such as Petersfield. We dont recommend any particular firm.

My colleague advised me that if I am purchasing in Petersfield I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

This is a search is sometimes quoted for as part of the standard Petersfield conveyancing searches. It is a large document of more than thirty pages, listing and detailing significant information about Petersfield around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime statistics, Petersfield Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information about Petersfield.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a quick, chain free conveyancing. Petersfield is where the house is located. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Petersfield are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Petersfield you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Petersfield may determine 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.

I have been sourcing a conveyancing solicitor in Petersfield for my home move. Can I review a firm’s complaints history with the legal regulator?

Members of the public may find published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions stemming from investigations commenced on or after 1 January 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For records about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors record, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For non-uk callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator could recorded call for training requirements.

What advice can you give us when it comes to appointing a Petersfield conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Petersfield conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you speak with several firms including non Petersfield conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions might be of use:

How familiar is the practice with lease extension legislation? If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

I purchased a 2 bed flat in Petersfield, conveyancing was carried out in 2009. How much will my lease extension cost? Corresponding flats in Petersfield with an extended lease are worth £202,000. The ground rent is £60 per annum. The lease expires on 21st October 2081

With just 56 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £29,500 and £34,000 plus costs.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs without more detailed due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.