My grandfather passed away 10 months ago and as sole heir and executor I was left the property in Hexham. The house had a small mortgage remaining of approximately £4500. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Kent Reliance, pay off the mortgage. Is this allowed?

If you intend to re-mortgage then Kent Reliance will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Kent Reliance conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Kent Reliance mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.

A friend suggested that if I am buying in Hexham I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

This is a search is sometimes quoted for as part of the standard Hexham conveyancing searches. It is not a small report of about 40 pages, listing and detailing significant information about Hexham around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime statistics, Local Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data about Hexham.

How does conveyancing in Hexham differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Hexham approach us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is constructed. This is because new home sellers in Hexham usually buy the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Hexham or who has acted in the same development.

I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing lawyer in Hexham for my sale. Can I check a firm’s complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

You can review published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions arising from investigations from 2008 onwards. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a firm's record, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For callers outside the UK, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA could monitor telephone calls for training reasons.

I am hoping to exchange soon on a garden flat in Hexham. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they report fully on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Hexham should include some of the following:

Whether the lease restricts you from letting out the property, or having a home office for business Your solicitors should enable you to have an understanding of the building insurance provisions The unexpired lease term. You should receive guidance as what happens when the lease expires, and informed of the importance of the 80 year mark Where does the liability rest to repair and maintain the block. It is essential for you to know who is duty bound to repair and maintenance of all parts of the block and communal areas Specifying your rights in respect of the communal areas in the building.E.G., does the lease permit a right of way over an accessway or staircase?

I own a 1st floor flat in Hexham, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Equivalent flats in Hexham with a long lease are worth £176,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 per annum. The lease runs out on 21st October 2075

With 50 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £31,400 and £36,200 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more detailed investigations. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.