As someone unfamiliar with conveyancing in Stoke Newington what’s the number one tip you can impart concerning the ownership transfer in Stoke Newington

You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Stoke Newington or throughout London is an adversarial experience. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there is plenty of opportunity for conflict between you and others involved in the ownership transfer. E.g., the seller, selling agent and even potentially the lender. Selecting a law firm for your conveyancing in Stoke Newington an important selection as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONLY person in the legal process whose interest is to protect your best interests and to protect you.

Sometimes a potential adversary may try and persuade you that you should follow their advice. As an example, the selling agent may claim to be assisting by suggesting your lawyer is slow. Or your mortgage broker may advise you to do take action that is contrary to your solicitors advice. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties when it comes to the legal transfer of property.

A friend recommended that if I am buying in Stoke Newington I should ask my conveyancer to perform a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

A search of this type is usually quoted for as part of the standard Stoke Newington conveyancing searches. It is a large report of about 40 pages, listing and setting out significant information about Stoke Newington around the property and the people living there. It incorporates 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 details, Stoke Newington Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information about Stoke Newington.

I own a 4 bedroom Georgian house in Stoke Newington. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Chelsea Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the matching property. Is it worth asking Chelsea Building Society to clarify?

You should read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Stoke Newington and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the position with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £305k and identified one close by in Stoke Newington I like with open areas and railway links nearby, the downside is that it only has 51 years on the lease. There is not much else in Stoke Newington in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a lease with such few years left?

If you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease will be an issue. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for at least 2 years you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this matter.

I'm converting the mortgage on my primary property to a BTL mortgage with Clydesdale and I will use the rest of the raised equity as a down payment on a second property. The location we are interested in is Stoke Newington. Will your conveyancers be able to act for the two banks and tie in the transactions?

Do use our comparison tool on this page to be sure that the conveyancers are on the appropriate lender panels. Having checked that they are your lawyer should be able to connect the two deals but you should have a chat with you lawyer and make clear your expectations and requirements.