It has come to my attention via my mortgage broker that my Booker solicitor is not on the bank Solicitor panel. How can I check?

The sensible course of action for you to take is to contact your Booker lawyer directly. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to advise you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the conveyancing panel for your bank.

When it comes to lenders such as , do Booker incur a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any bank fees to register on their panel, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.

I have paid off my mortgage with . I assume I don't need a Booker on the panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your 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 mortgage from the register. , 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 has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. has instructed the Land Registry to do so

After months of negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment in Booker. My mortgage broker suggested a . I paid an advanced payment of £175. Soon after, the contacted me to say that they were not on the conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

I need some quick conveyancing in Booker as I am under an ultimatum to complete within one month. Fortunately I do not need a mortgage. Can I escape the need for conveyancing searches to save fees and time?

As you are not taking a mortgage you are at free not to have searches conducted although no lawyer would advise that you don't. Drawing on our experience of conveyancing in Booker the following are examples of what can show up and therefore impact market value: Refused Planning Applications, Outstanding Charges, Overdue Grants, Railway Schemes,...

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Booker?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Booker. 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…’

Just had an offer accepted on a new build flat in Booker. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Here are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Booker

The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company?