It has come to my attention via my IFA that my Walkington lawyer is not on the mortgage company Conveyancing panel. What can I do to be sure if this is correct?

The first thing you need to do is to call your Walkington lawyer directly. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to inform you what has happened. Where they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the conveyancing panel for your lender.

How can we tell if a Walkington conveyancing solicitor on the Santander panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Walkington obtaining recommendations is a sensible 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 suggest that you speak with the solicitor carrying out your transaction.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Walkington. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Skipton be concerned?

Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with Skipton your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing instructions contained in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Skipton. The CML Handbook includes minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancers are required to report to Skipton where a lease does not comply with these requirements. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not restricted to Walkington.

I am selling my house. I had a double glazing fitted in March 2010, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's mortgage company, TSB are being a right pain. The Walkington solicitor who is on the TSB conveyancing panel is saying indemnity insurance will be fine but TSB are requiring a building regulation certificate. Why do TSB have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?

It is probably the case that TSB have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why TSB may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.

I am buying a property and the lawyer has referenced Chancel Repair to which the house could be liable as it falls into the area of such a church. He has recommended insurance. Is this strictly necessary for conveyancing in Walkington

Unless a prior acquisition of the property completed after 12 October 2013 you could take it that solicitors handling conveyancing in Walkington to remain recommending a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

I am looking for a ground for flat up to £305k and found one close by in Walkington I like with open areas and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 51 years on the lease. There is not much else in Walkington for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease will likely be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

I have been Googling for Walkington online conveyancing estimates. Can I be assured that all the Walkington law firms that are identified on your website are on the mortgage company conveyancing panel?

The law firms listed on our site have advised us that they are on the bank panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the mortgage company panel. To date we have not been informed by either a mortgage company or a member of the public that the data about a specific Walkington conveyancing solicitor being on the bank conveyancing panel is incorrect.