Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to have a meeting at the offices of the solicitor to execute the mortgage deed? If so, I will instruct a firm who offer conveyancing in Somerton so that I can pop in to their offices if necessary.

As opposed to 15 years ago, the vast majority mortgage companies no longer oblige their conveyancing panel lawyer to witness the borrowers signature. It will still be necessary for you to provide ID documents and there are still manifest advantages to instructing a local solicitor, in your situation a conveyancing solicitor in Somerton.

We are buying a end of terrace house in Somerton. We would like to carry out an extension to the side at the property.Will legal due diligence on the property involve checks to determine if these alterations are allowed?

Your conveyancer should review the deeds as conveyancing in Somerton will on occasion identify restrictions in the title deeds which restrict categories of works or necessitated the consent of another owner. Certain additions require local authority planning permissions and approval in accordance building regulations. Many locations are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which frequently prevent or impact extensions. You should check these issues with a surveyor before you commit yourself to a purchase.

I can not fathom if my lender obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called my Somerton building society branch on a couple of occasions and was told it wasn't an issue and they will lend. My Somerton conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called and was told they refuse to lend based on their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?

As long as the conveyancing practitioner is on the mortgage company panel, they must follow the CML Handbook specifications for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the bank 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.

After what feels like an age I have had an offer on a flat in Somerton agreed to, but there is a chain. The sellers have put an offer on somewhere, however it’s not yet agreed to, and are looking at other flats booked. I have chosen a nearby conveyancing solicitor in Somerton. What do I do now? When do I get the mortgage application with Clydesdale started?

It is normal to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (home loan application is in the region of one thousand pounds, then valuation, Somerton conveyancing search fees, etc). The first course of action is to check that your conveyancing practitioner is on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel. As to the subsequent stages this very much depends on the uniqueness of your case, motivation for the property and on the state of the market. During a rising market some home buyers will apply for the mortgage with Clydesdale and arrange for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they pay their property lawyer to press on with searches.

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and found one round the corner in Somerton I like with amenity areas and station nearby, the downside is that it only has 51 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Somerton for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?

Should you require a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will be problematic. Reduce the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for at least 2 years you could request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.

Is it simple use the search app to locate a conveyancing practitioner in Somerton on the approved list for my lender?

First pick a bank such as Yorkshire Building Society, Coventry Building Society or Bank of Ireland then type in your preferred area a common one being Somerton. Conveyancing organisations in Somerton and beyond should be shown.

I am an executor of my recently deceased parent's Will, with a house in Somerton which is to be sold. The house has never been registered at the Land Registry and I'm told that many buyers solicitors will insist that it is in place before they will move forward. What's the mechanism for this?

In the circumstances that you have set out it seems advisable to apply to register in the names of the personal representative(s) as named in the probate and in their capacity as PRs. HMLR’s online guidance explains how to register for the first time and what is required re the deeds and forms. You would need to include and official copy of the probate as well and complete the form FR1 to refer to the PRs as the applicant.