I am acquiring a house mortgage free in Preston Park. I have resided for the previous 15 years in Preston Park. Conveyancing searches are a lot of money. Given that I have knowledge of the road and vicinity very well should I not bother getting the solicitor to do all the conveyancing searches?

Provided that you do not need a home loan, then the vast majority of the Preston Park conveyancing searches are optional. Your conveyancer will try and steer you, no-doubt strongly, that you should have searches completed, but he has a professional duty to take that path of encouragement . One thing to bear in mind; if you are intend to dispose of the house one day, it could be of interest to your prospective buyer what the searches determine. On occasion properties with no practical issues can still show up unexpected search results. A competent conveyancing solicitor in Preston Park should provide you some helpful guidance in this regard.

I purchased a freehold premises in Preston Park but nevertheless charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Preston Park and has limited impact for conveyancing in Preston 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 have existed for hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

Previous rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 is to be extinguished.

My uncle passed away 10 months ago and as sole heir and executor I was left the property in Preston Park. The house had a small mortgage left on it of around £8000. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Aldermore, pay off the mortgage. Is this possible?

If you intend to re-mortgage then Aldermore will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Aldermore conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Aldermore mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.

I opted to have a survey completed on a house in Preston Park prior to retaining conveyancers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor advised that some banks may not give a loan on such a home.

It varies from the lender to lender. Santander has different requirements from Nationwide. Should you wish to call us we can check with the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Preston Park. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Preston Park especially if they are accustomed to such properties in Preston Park.

I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing practitioner in Preston Park for my purchase. Is there any facility to check a firm’s complaints history with the legal regulator?

You can search for published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations arising from investigations commenced on or after Jan 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find information about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors history, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For callers outside the UK, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA sometimes monitor telephone calls for training purposes.