My husband and I are purchasing a 2 bedroom apartment in Friern Barnet with a residential mortgage from Platform Home Loans Ltd.We would like to retain our Friern Barnet conveyancing solicitor but Platform Home Loans Ltd informed us her practice is not on their approved list of firms. we are left little option but to use a Platform Home Loans Ltd panel lawyer or keep our high street solicitor and fork out for a Platform Home Loans Ltd panel lawyer to act for them. We feel as though this is unjust; Can we not simply insist that Platform Home Loans Ltd use our lawyer?

No, not really. The loan offered to you contains various provisions, a common one being that solicitors must be on the Platform Home Loans Ltd approved list. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could find 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 solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Platform Home Loans Ltd

I am purchasing a property and the conveyancer has identified Chancel Repair to which the property could be liable as it falls into the area of such a church. He has mentioned insurance. Is this strictly warranted for conveyancing in Friern Barnet

Unless a previous purchase of the house took place post 12 October 2013 you may expect solicitors delivering conveyancing in Friern Barnet to remain recommending a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

I am buying a new build house in Friern Barnet benefiting from help to buy. The sellers would not budge the amount so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The property agent told me not to tell my lawyer about this extras as it would affect my loan with the bank. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I have offered on last month in what was supposed to be a quick, no chain conveyancing. Friern Barnet is where the house is located. Is there any advice you can give?

Flying freeholds in Friern Barnet are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Friern Barnet you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Friern Barnet 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 residence.

I today plan to offer on a house that seems to be perfect, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently discovered that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Friern Barnet. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Friern Barnet are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are purchasing in Friern Barnet in which case you should be looking for a Friern Barnet conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a tenant you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions such as obtaining the freeholder’sconsent to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the house is part of an estate. Your lawyer will report to you on the legal implications.

I own a basement flat in Friern Barnet. Given that I can not reach agreement with the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the premium due for the purchase of the freehold?

in cases where there is a missing freeholder or where there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the LVT to assess the amount due.

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Friern Barnet premises is 34 Poplar Grove in June 2013. The Tribunal directed that the premium for the lease extension should be in the sum of £10,250. This case affected 1 flat.