I had intended to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Old Stratford for our house purchase. Our broker informed us that our bank Barclays won't deal with them. Surely this is unduly restrictive?

Before the recession most lenders had an appetite for risk which was higher than today. Almost all Old Stratford conveyancing firms would have been on most mortgage company panels. The financial services regulator in 2010 carried out a thematic review into mortgage fraud which come to the conclusion: know the conveyancing solicitors dealt with. Consequently, mortgage companies are increasingly seeing more data from law firms relating to their operations and their employees as well as set certain criteria such a completing on a minimum volume of transactions. Many Old Stratford conveyancing firms that have been excluded from lender panels have a 100% healthy track record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Old Stratford is amongst the hundreds of areas where the conveyancers showing on our search results are are authorised to act for Barclays .

I just acquired a house at auction in Old Stratford. Conveyancing is required. What happens now?

Now that you have to in every practical sense signed on the dotted line you now have to retain a conveyancing practitioner as a matter of priority as you will have a pending deadline in which to complete the purchase. An auction property will ordinarily have a corresponding auction set of papers. This should include most,if not all of the documents that your lawyer will need. In the case of leasehold premises the legal pack should contain a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing paperwork relating to leasehold premises. You need to give this to the solicitor instructed by you ASAP. Do make sure that you have funds in place to complete on the date specified in the contract.

A colleague pointed out to me me that in purchasing a property in Old Stratford there could be various restrictions prohibiting external alterations to the property. Is this right?

We are aware of a number of properties in Old Stratford which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Old Stratford should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

Is it the case that all Old Stratford solicitors on the Lloyds conveyancing panel are overseen by the SRA?

As solicitors, in order to be on the Lloyds approved list of solicitors they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Some banks do permit licenced conveyancers on their panel and in such a situation the organisation would be overseen by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

Should commercial conveyancing searches disclose planned roadworks that may impact a commercial site in Old Stratford?

Many commercial conveyancing solicitors in Old Stratford will perform a SiteSolutions Highways report as it dramatically cuts the time that conveyancers invest in sourcing accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Old Stratford. The search result provides definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Old Stratford.

For every commercial conveyancing transaction in Old Stratford it is crucial to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. The absence of identifying developments where adoption procedures have not been addressed adequately can cause delays to Old Stratford commercial conveyancing deals as well as present a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not ordered for residential conveyancing in Old Stratford.

I need to find a conveyancing solicitor for my conveyancing in Old Stratford. I've land on a web site which appears to be the ideal offering If there is a chance to get all the legals completed via phone that would be ideal. Do I need to be concerned? What should out be looking out for?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

Having used your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the lender conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the mortgage company approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?

Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the mortgage company conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the lender solicitor panel.