We were just about to sign contracts for a freehold house in Blackwell. We have hit a problem. The mortgage offer with Yorkshire Building Society expires on 11/9/2025 but the sellers are suggesting a completion date of 15/9/2025. Can one extend the mortgage expiry date?

The best person to deal with your question is your solicitors who should assess whether they corresponding with the mortgage broker, vendor’s conveyancers, estate agents or possibly all parties taking into account what has gone on in your conveyancing to date.

Are the BSA intent on creating a search tool with a view to list solicitors on the Earl Shilton BS conveyancing panel for example in Blackwell?

We would not expect to be advised of any plans on the part of the BSA to develop such a register.

Will our lawyer be raising enquiries concerning flooding during the conveyancing in Blackwell.

Flooding is a growing risk for solicitors carrying out conveyancing in Blackwell. Plenty of people will buy a house in Blackwell, completely aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, where a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, suitable insurance cover, or sell the premises. There are steps that can be taken during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the buyer.

Solicitors are not qualified to offer advice on flood risk, but there are a various searches that may be carried out by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which can give them a better appreciation of the risks in Blackwell. The conventional set of completed inquiry forms supplied to a buyer’s lawyer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) includes a standard inquiry of the owner to find out whether the property has suffered from flooding. If the property has been flooded in past and is not notified by the owner, then a buyer may bring a legal claim for losses resulting from an inaccurate reply. The buyer’s lawyers may also commission an environmental search. This should higlight whether there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries should be made.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified during conveyancing in Blackwell?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Blackwell. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

Given that I am about to part with 450k on a property in Blackwell I wish to talk to a lawyer concerning thehouse move before appointing the firm. Can this be arranged?

We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the conveyancer due to be doing your property ownership legalities in Blackwell.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is an important person, not a case reference. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are provided with for your conveyancing in Blackwell should be the figure that you are charged.