Having sold my house in Goring last March yet the purchaser is calling daily to say their lawyer is waiting to hear from mine. What should have happened following completion?

Post completion of your disposal your conveyancer should forward the transfer documentation and all supplemental paperwork to the purchaser's lawyers. If applicable, your lawyer should also evidence that the mortgage has been repaid to the buyers lawyers. There is unlikely to be post completion steps unique to conveyancing in Goring.

This question may be naive but I am wet behind the ears as a 1st time purchaser of a two bedroom flat in Goring. Do I receive the keys to the premises on the completion date from my conveyancer? If so, I will use a local conveyancing solicitor in Goring?

There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Your solicitors will arrange to send the purchase money to the owner’s lawyers, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you will be invited to receive the keys from the property Agents and move into your new home. Usually this occurs early afternoon.

My husband and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from Co-operative as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home in Goring. Are we obliged to appoint a bricks and mortar Goring solicitor on the Co-operative conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?

Co-operative do not ordinarily require a member of their approved list of lawyers to handle such a matter. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Co-operative panel.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Goring off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with HSBC. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with HSBC, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the HSBC conveyancing panel.

Should my solicitor be asking questions about flooding as part of the conveyancing in Goring.

Flooding is a growing risk for lawyers carrying out conveyancing in Goring. There are those who purchase a house in Goring, fully expectant that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, aside from the physical damage, where a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or sell the premises. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.

Lawyers are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a number of searches that can be carried out by the purchaser or by their lawyers which can give them a better appreciation of the risks in Goring. The conventional set of completed inquiry forms supplied to a purchaser’s conveyancer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a usual question of the vendor to find out if the premises has suffered from flooding. In the event that flooding has previously occurred and is not disclosed by the vendor, then a purchaser may bring a legal claim for losses resulting from an incorrect response. The purchaser’s conveyancers should also order an environmental search. This will reveal whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, more detailed investigations will need to be initiated.

How do I use the search app to locate a conveyancing practitioner in Goring on the authorised to act for my lender?

Step one is to select a lender such as Santander, Barnsley Building Society or Nottingham Building Society then choose your location for instance Goring. Conveyancing firms in Goring and beyond will then be listed.

My step-father has urged me to use his lawyers for conveyancing in Goring. Should I use them?

There are no two ways about it it’s preferable to choose a conveyancing solicitor is to seek recommendations from friends or relatives who have actually used the solicitor that you are are thinking of instructing.