I am mortgaging my house in Chipping Norton, does my lawyer need to be on the Solicitor panel?

There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor, but will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is much more potential for delays and confusion with an additional lawyer added to the mix, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.

We are selling our house in Chipping Norton and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was built land that was not decontaminated. Any local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers instructed a web based conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Chipping Norton. We have lived in Chipping Norton for six years we know of no issue. Should we get in touch with our local Authority to get confirmation that there is no issue.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing solicitor already. Are they able to advise? You should enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same illness)

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on last month in what should have been a quick, no chain conveyancing. Chipping Norton is the location of the property. Can you offer any guidance?

Flying freeholds in Chipping Norton are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Chipping Norton you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Chipping Norton may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

Am I better off to choose a Chipping Norton conveyancing solicitor based in the area that I am hoping to buy? I have an old university friend who can deal with the conveyancing but they are based 200kilometers away.

The benefit of a high street Chipping Norton conveyancing firm is that you can visit the firm to execute paperwork, hand in your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. Having local Chipping Norton know how is a plus. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust instructed your friend and on the whole were content that must surpass using an unfamiliar Chipping Norton conveyancing solicitor just because they are round the corner.

Our estate agent has suggested using their for my conveyancing in Chipping Norton - Surely it’s advisable to just use them?

It is not always the case and you are entitled to opt for whichever you decide for your Chipping Norton conveyancing. The put forward by a 3rd party adviser may not necessarily be the best , they may put forward their own conveyancing firm who are based remotely. In this instance you may not have contact with your and due to the lack of continuity in the transaction, it may be difficult to obtain progress reports.