My aunt passed away 10 months ago and as sole heir and executor I was left the house in Silverstone. The house had a small mortgage remaining of approximately £8000. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to , pay off the mortgage. Is this allowed?

Given you plan to refinance then will require that you use a conveyancer on the 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 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 mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.

I am selling our property in Silverstone and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being constructed on contaminated land. Any local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers are using a nationwide conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Silverstone. Having lived in Silverstone for 5 years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to obtain clarification need.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer already. What do they say? You need to check with 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 ailment)

I am buying a new build apartment in Silverstone. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Set out below is a sample of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Silverstone

Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Please supply evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants.

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and identified one close by in Silverstone I like with open areas and station nearby, however it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Silverstone for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

Should you require a mortgage that many years will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you may ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor about this.

Should I stop the direct debit for my mortgage with once a completion date for my home sale in Silverstone has been set?

No, you should keep meeting any mortgage sums to until the mortgage is redeemed out of the proceeds of sale as part of your Silverstone conveyancing.