My wife and I are intending to acquire a 2 bedroom flat in Bicester with a mortgage. We have a Bicester conveyancer, but the bank says he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the mortgage company panel conveyancing practices or keep our Bicester conveyancer as well as pay for one of their panel firms to represent them. This feels very unfair; are we not able to require that the mortgage company use our Bicester lawyer ?

Unfortunately,no. Your mortgage offer is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your Bicester conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.

I am the registered owner of a freehold premises in Bicester yet invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Bicester and has limited impact for conveyancing in Bicester but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of fresh rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence after 2037 will be extinguished.

My wife and I have recently appointed a conveyancing solicitor in Bicester. I I would like to check if they are on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel. Could you assist?

You should call the lawyer and ask them if they are on the lender panel. Otherwise please call Bank of Ireland who may be able to confirm.

Me and my brother own a terraced Georgian house in Bicester. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and Clydesdale. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You need to assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Bicester and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also question the situation with the conveyancing solicitor who carried out the work.

In my capacity as executor for the will of my uncle I am disposing of a residence in Cardiff but live in Bicester. My solicitor (approximately 260 miles awayrequires that I execute a statutory declaration prior to completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing lawyer in Bicester to attest and place their company stamp on the document?

strictly speaking you are not likely to need to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or qualified solicitor will do regardless of whether they are based in Bicester