My husband and I are looking to buy a house in Hilsea and have appointed a Hilsea conveyancing firm. Within the last couple of days our property lawyer has forwarded the sale agreement to be signed with a detailed report with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Nottingham Building Society have this afternoon contacted us to advise us that there is now an issue as our Hilsea conveyancer is not on their conveyancing panel. Please explain?

When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is conventional for the purchasers' solicitors to also represent the mortgage company. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Accreditation Scheme. Your property lawyer should contact your bank and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You don't have to instruct a firm on the bank's conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own Hilsea solicitors, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.

I am the registered owner of a freehold house in Hilsea yet charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Hilsea and has limited impact for conveyancing in Hilsea but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of new rentcharges post 1977.

Previous rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 will be extinguished.

Is it necessary to pay for insurance to protect me from financial exposure to chancel repairs when purchasing a property in Hilsea?

Unless a previous acquisition of the premises completed after 12 October 2013 you may assume that solicitors carrying out conveyancing in Hilsea to continue to propose a a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

I am using a search engine for the words conveyancing in Hilsea it reveals many solicitorsin the area. With so much choice what is the best way to find the suitable conveyancer for me?

The best method of seeking the right conveyancer is through a personal testimonial, so ask friends and relatives who have acquired a property in Hilsea or a local estate agent or mortgage broker. Costs for conveyancing in Hilsea differ, so it's sensible to obtain a minimum of four estimates from varying types of solicitors. Make sure that you clarify that the fees are fixed.

What can I do where I am dissatisfied with the conveyancing practitioner who handled our conveyancing in Hilsea?

Occasionally the level of service you receive is not as you expect, and unfortunately every so often things do go wrong. That being said there is recourse where you were not happy with your conveyancing in Hilsea. This varies from trying to resolve matters directly with them, through to reporting a conveyancer to their regulator. If you remain dissatisfied you may consider enlisting the help of the Legal Ombudsman.