It is a dozen years since I acquired my property in South Hackney. Conveyancing solicitors have now been instructed on the sale but I can't find my deeds. Is this a major issue?

You need not be too concerned. First the deeds may be kept by the lender or they could be in the possession of the lawyers who oversaw the purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the land will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you own the property by your conveyancing solicitors procuring up to date copy of the land registers. Almost all conveyancing in South Hackney involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is unregistered it is more tricky but is not insurmountable.

I just acquired a house at auction in South Hackney. Conveyancing is needed. What are my next steps?

Having exchanged you now have to instruct a conveyancing solicitor as a matter of priority as you are faced with a pending deadline in which to complete the conveyancing. All auction property will ordinarily have a bespoke auction set of papers. This will likely include evidence of title and search results. In the case of leasehold property the legal papers may contain a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing documentation specific to leasehold premises. You should hand this to your appointed conveyancing solicitor as soon as possible. You also need to ensure that your finances are organised to complete on the date specified in the contract.

Can I be sure that the South Hackney conveyancing solicitor on the Clydesdale panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in South Hackney seeking recommendations is a good start. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one advertising the lowest fees. We would always advise that you speak with the solicitor conducting your transaction.

I have finally had an offer on a flat in South Hackney accepted, the sellers do however have an associated purchase. The owners have put an offer on on an apartment, however it’s not been accepted yet, and are looking at other flats in the pipeline. I have chosen a bricks and mortar conveyancing solicitor in South Hackney. What do I do now? At what point do I apply for the mortgage with TSB?

It is normal to have anxieties where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx one thousand pounds, then valuation, South Hackney conveyancing search charges, etc). First, you must check that your solicitor is on the TSB conveyancing panel. Concerning the next stages this very much depends on the specifics of your case, motivation for the property and on the state of the market. In a hot market many purchasers would apply for a home loan with TSB and arrange for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they request their conveyancing practitioner to proceed with searches.

I was pointed in your direction by numerous property agents in South Hackney to select a solicitor using your seach tool. What’s the financial advantage for Estate Agents to promote your services rather than alternative conveyancing organisations?

We don’t offer any commission for pointing buyers and sellers in our direction. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission because members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

I want to sublet my leasehold flat in South Hackney. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Do I need to ask my freeholder for permission?

Notwithstanding that your previous South Hackney conveyancing lawyer is no longer available you can check your lease to check if it allows you to sublet the apartment. The rule is that if the deeds are non-specific, subletting is allowed. There may be a precondition that you are obliged to obtain consent via your landlord or some other party prior to subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet in the absence of prior permission. The consent must not not be unreasonably withheld. If the lease prohibits you from subletting the property you should ask your landlord for their consent.

I am the proprietor of a first floor flat in South Hackney. Given that I can not reach agreement with the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the sum due for a lease extension?

in cases where there is a absentee landlord or where there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the LVT to decide the price payable.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a South Hackney flat is 150 Amhurst Road in December 2013. The tribunal concluded that the premium to be paid by the applicant for the enfranchisement of the subject property was £43,500. This case was in relation to 4 flats. The unexpired term was 90 (or thereabouts).

Are you able to confirm the variety of conveyancing provided by South Hackney conveyancing solicitors?

On the whole South Hackney conveyancing solicitors will provide a number of assistance to home and land owners, sellers, first time buyers, landlords and tenants which may include:

Domestic sale conveyancing in South Hackney or beyond Private residential purchase conveyancing in South Hackney and nationwide Planning and boundary enquiries Complex land law issues Shared equity conveyancing countrywide rather than just South Hackney Advice on property related issue