A friend advised me that if I am purchasing in Stone I should ask my conveyancer to execute a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

This is a search is occasionally included in the estimate for your Stone conveyancing searches. It is a large report of about 40 pages, listing and detailing significant information about Stone around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Stone Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Stone Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information regarding Stone.

The deeds to our home are lost. The lawyers who dealt with the conveyancing in Stone 4 years ago are no longer around. What are my next steps?

In today’s world there are copies made of almost everything, and your conveyancer will be aware exactly where to find all the suitable documentation so you may purchase or sell your property without a hitch. If duplicates can’t be located, your conveyancer may be able to put in place insurance or indemnities against future claims on the property.

I have been on the look out for a flat up to £305k and found one round the corner in Stone I like with a park and railway links in the vicinity, however it only has 49 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Stone for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a short lease?

If you need a home loan that many years will be an issue. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for at least 2 years you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

I am a fortnight into a freehold purchase having been referred to solicitors by the high street agent to carry out the conveyancing in Stone. I am not happy. Could you help me find new solicitors?

A solicitor would have to be really bad in order to consider replacing them. Has the mortgage offer been issued? If so you must inform them of the new contact details and have the offer are issued to the new lawyers. The solicitor ideally needs to be on the lenders approved list to avoid escalating costs and complications. So that should be your first question of the new lawyers. The find a solicitor tool can help you find a bank approved solicitor for your conveyancing in Stone

Living abroad I am unable to attend my Stone conveyancing solicitors office to sign documents for conveyancing in Stone – is this a problem?

You need not be concerned. Stone conveyancing solicitors can handle conveyancing transactions for clients nationally. It is not necessary for you to be able to attend a Stone conveyancers office. They can undertake everything through post, email, telephone and fax.