Some advice if I may. My Oakley solicitor is assuring me that he is legally obliged toapply for Oakley conveyancing searches stemming from the fact thatthe firm are on the Santanderapproved lawyer panel. Is my lawyer right?

Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. As you are obtaining a home loan with a lender your has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your bank’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the CML Handbook conditions . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Oakley conveyancing searches.

I purchased my apartment on 14 May and the transaction details is yet to be registered. Any reason for this? My conveyancing solicitor in Oakley expressed confidence that it should be dealt with in less than a month. Are transfers in Oakley particularly slow to register?

There is nothing unique when it comes to conveyancing in Oakley registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timescales can adjust subject to who lodges the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry communicate with any other parties. At present in the region of three quarters of such applications are fully addressed within two weeks but some can be subject to extensive hold-ups. Registration takes place after the new owner is living at the premises thus post completion formalities is not typically primary concern but if there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your lawyers can communicate with the Registry to express the reasoning for the application to be prioritised.

I am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and found one near me in Oakley I like with a park and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 51 years on the lease. There is not much else in Oakley suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?

If you need a mortgage that many years will be problematic. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you may ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this matter.

My father has recommend that I appoint his conveyancing solicitors in Oakley. Should I use them?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Oakley conveyancing lawyer the ideal way to select a conveyancing practitioner is to have feedback from friends or family who have actually used the firm that you are considering.

My partner is purchasing a ground floor flat in Oakley. He was given a quote by the recommended by the selling agents and it came to £1385 . It was eight years ago since I sold and purchased a home and the fee was £600. Have charges really gone up that much?

What does the conveyancing estimate include? Is it just for the legal fees, or what you will be paying in total (for example Oakley searches, land registry fees, etc)