I am hoping to receive a mortgage offer from Lloyds. I intend to enlist the help of a Licensed Conveyancer in Repton. Does the Lloyds Solicitor panel allow for conveyancers regulated by the CLC?

The Lloyds conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, associated to the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

Will commercial conveyancing searches disclose planned roadworks that could affect a commercial property in Repton?

Its becoming the norm that commercial conveyancing solicitors in Repton will carry out a SiteSolutions Highways report as it reduces the time that conveyancers expend in looking into accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Repton. The search result provides definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Repton.

For each commercial conveyancing transaction in Repton it is crucial to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. The absence of identifying developments where adoption procedures have not been addressed adequately can result in delays to Repton commercial conveyancing deals as well as present a risk to future plans for the site. These searches are not conducted for domestic conveyancing in Repton.

I purchased a terraced Edwardian house in Repton. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Godiva Mortgages Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold with the matching address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Repton and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also check the position with your conveyancing practitioner who carried out the work.

I was pointed in your direction by a number of estate agents in Repton to get a quote from a conveyancer on your site. What’s the financial inducement for Estate Agents to recommend your site ahead of a competitor’s?

We don’t give any referral fee for directing people in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to meet my requirements, at a reasonable figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are issues buying a house with a leasehold title in Repton. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Repton are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Repton so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Repton conveyancing practitioner and check that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions such as requiring the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your conveyancer will report to you on the legal implications.