It is a dozen years since I acquired my home in Woodford. Conveyancing lawyers have just been retained on the sale but I can't find the title documents. Will this jeopardise the sale?

Don’t worry too much. Firstly the deeds may be with your lender or they could stored with the lawyers who oversaw your purchase. Secondly in all probability 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 obtaining current official copies of the land registers. Almost all conveyancing in Woodford relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is not registered it is more of a problem but is resolvable.

I have been recommended a conveyancing solicitor in Woodford. I I would like to check if they are accepted on the Bank of Scotland approved list of lawyers. Can you advise?

The first thing you should do is e-mail the conveyancer and enquire whether they are on the lender panel. Alternatively you can get in touch with Bank of Scotland who may be able to confirm.

I used Action Conveyancing several years past for my conveyancing in Woodford. Now, I need my documents however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Woodford of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

My husband and I are first time buyers - had an offer accepted, yet the property agent advised that the owners will only move forward if we instruct the agent's chosen conveyancers as they are insisting on an ‘expedited deal’. We would rather use a family solicitor used to conveyancing in Woodford

We suspect that the owner is unaware of this request. If they require ‘a quick sale', turning down a serious purchaser is counter productive. Speak to the owners direct and make the point that (a)you are genuine purchasers (b)you are ready to progress, with finances arranged © you are unencumbered (d) you wish to move quickly (e)however you are going to use your preferred Woodford conveyancing lawyers - rather thanthose that will provide the negotiator at the agency a kickback or achieve conveyancing figures demanded by head office.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Woodford. Conveyancing and Barnsley Building Society mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing practitioner in Woodford who previously acted has now retired. Do I pay?

First make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that this person is in fact the new freeholder. You do not need to instruct a Woodford conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. You should note that regardless, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

I am the registered owner of a ground floor flat in Woodford. Given that I can not reach agreement with the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the premium payable for the purchase of the freehold?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Woodford conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Woodford premises is 201 & 201a St. Barnabas Road in October 2013. The Tribunal decided that the price to be paid by the Applicants for the freehold interest is £20,071. This case affected 2 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 69.26 years.