We are due to exchange buying a house in Wood Green but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have managed to agree compensation from the vendor in the sum of £3k by way of a reduction in the price. I had intended this to be addressed as part of the conveyancing process but Kent Reliance will not permit this. Should they have been approached?

Your conveyancer being on a Kent Reliance approved list is required to inform Kent Reliance of any changes to the sale price. If you were to refuse your property lawyer to report the reduction to Kent Reliance then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, Kent Reliance and you would have to appoint a new lawyer for your conveyancing in Wood Green.

As someone not used to the Wood Green conveyancing process what is the number one tip you can impart for the legal transfer of property in Wood Green

Not many law firms or advisers will tell you this but conveyancing in Wood Green or throughout North London is often a confrontational process. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there exists plenty of room for conflict between you and other parties involved in the legal transfer of property. For example, the vendor, property agent and even potentially a bank. Selecting a solicitor for your conveyancing in Wood Green should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONLY party in the transaction whose interest is to look after your legal interests and to keep you safe.

Every so often a third party with a vested interest will attempt to convince you that it is in your interests to do things their way. As an example, the estate agent may claim to be helping by claiming that your solicitor is dragging his heels. Or your financial adviser may advise you to do take action that is against your lawyers advice. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties in the home moving process.

I am assisting my aunt sell her house in Wood Green. Does the solicitor order the EPC or should I organise this?

After the demise of Home Information Packs, energy performance certificates became a required component of selling a property. An energy assessment should be to hand in advance of the property being marketed. It is not as aspect of the sale process that solicitors ordinarily organise. If you are instructing a Wood Green conveyancing practitioner they might be able to arrange energy performance certificates given their contacts with reputable Wood Green assessors

We previously selected conveyancers locally in Wood Green on the Aldermore solicitor approved list. They have just billed me a supplemental fee for the legal aspects of the Aldermore mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Aldermore?

As unfair as it may appear, as long as it’s in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitor may levy a fee for this. The fee is not dictated by Aldermore but by your Wood Green conveyancer. Plenty of firms on the Aldermore panel will quote an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.

I have paid off my mortgage with Leeds Building Society. I assume I don't need a Wood Green property lawyer on the Leeds Building Society panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your Leeds Building Society mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Leeds Building Society mortgage from the register. Leeds Building Society, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:

1. but are not moving to another property
2. where Leeds Building Society has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. Leeds Building Society has instructed the Land Registry to do so

Do I need to pay for insurance to address the risk of chancel repairs when purchasing a property in Wood Green?

Unless a previous purchase of the house took place after 12 October 2013 you could take it that solicitors delivering conveyancing in Wood Green to continue to suggest a chancel search and or chancel repair liability insurance.

I got the keys to my house on 8 September and the transaction details is yet to be registered. Any reason for this? My conveyancing solicitor in Wood Green expressed confidence that it will be formalised in less than a month. Are properties in Wood Green uniquely lengthy to register?

As far as conveyancing in Wood Green is concerned, registration is no quicker or slower than the rest of the country. Rather than based on location, timescales can differ depending on the party submitting the application, whether it is in order and whether the Land registry communicate with any interested parties. At present roughly three quarters of such applications are fully addressed in less than three weeks but occasionally there can be protracted hold-ups. Historically registration occurs after the purchaser is living at the premises therefore 'speed' is not usually top priority yet where there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your conveyancer must contact the land registry and explain the circumstances.