I have given 2 months notice to my existing landlord and have to be out of my let out flat in Wantage by 20/1/2026. Conveyancing on my purchase has just started. Is it possible to complete in a couple of weeks as don't want to have to move into temporary accommodation?

It is unwise to give notice on a rental until you have exchanged. If you have not already done so, speak to your conveyancer and urge them to they cajole the other solicitors, try to a target completion date that all parties will aim to achieve

I'm the single recipient of my late father’s estate with all property in now in my sole name, including the house in Wantage. Conveyancing formalities meant that the Land Registry date was in November. I now wish to sell up. I understand that there is a CML 6 month 'rule', meaning my property ownership could be considered the same way as if I'd bought the property in November. Is the property unsalable for six months?

The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ handbook requires conveyancers to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." By the strict wording you might be caught by that. Some banks would take a pragmatic view as this obligation is chiefly there to identify the purchase and immediately sell or the flipping of property.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Wantage off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Yorkshire BS. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Yorkshire BS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel.

Intending to buy a house in Wantage. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the UBS conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Wantage solicitor is on the UBS conveyancing panel.

Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to our house can not be found. The lawyers who conducted the conveyancing in Wantage 4 years ago no longer exist. What are my options?

As long as the title is registered the details of your proprietorship will be documented by HMLR under a Title Number. It is easy to carry out a search at the Land Registry, identify your property and get current copies of the Registered Entries for a small fee. Where the title is Leasehold then the Land Registry will in most cases retain a certified copy of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be ordered for £20 inclusive of VAT.

I am looking for a flat up to £245,000 and identified one close by in Wantage I like with open areas and railway links in the vicinity, however it's only got 52 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Wantage in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?

Should you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you can request that they start the process of the extension 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 consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

Are there any specific advantages to instructing a local property lawyer in Wantage

Home movers in Wantage opt for a nearby high street solicitor so that they can visit in the event that they have concerns, and to collect mortgage deeds without using the Royal Mail.

There is a distinct benefit when using a property lawyer local to a house you are purchasing, due to the in-depth knowledge of the region and potential local concerns - yet this is moot. Many conveyancers are now online and may be based anywhere.