"Bickley - It's not just what you know, it's who you know. Associations with local authorities and other Bickley information sources, such as water and drainage providers, are maintained by our Solicitors and furthermore, any areas of particular consideration when buying or selling in Bickley will also be examined in detail."

Local issues considered by Bickley Conveyancing Solicitors:

Searches

If your are intending to purchase a new home in Bickley your conveyancing lawyer is required to apply for Searches. The Local Authority for Bickley is London Borough of Bromley Council, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH. Tel: 020 8464 3333

Qualifying for stamp duty relief in Bickley

Stamp duty relief may be available for property purchases in Bickley labelled as 'disadvantaged areas'. In England and Wales, they are based on electoral wards. Bickley residential property under £150,000 within one of these areas is exempt from stamp duty. Above this limit of £150k, nationwide rates apply regardless of whether the property is located within a disadvantaged area. That said, for any purchase below £150,000, it is worth making a simple postcode search to find out if a property is in a Disadvantaged area. 'Mixed use' property, including a shop with an apartment above, may also receive stamp duty relief.

Fridaysmoves property lawyers in Bickley are on all UK mortgage lender panels, including:

Issues to consider when your lawyer is not on your Lender's panel

Mortgage lenders maintain panels of solicitors who they will instruct to carry out legal work on mortgages. At one time, many lenders, especially the large banks, were prepared to instruct any firm of solicitors who asked to be placed on their panel. Increasingly however, lenders have lowered the number of firms which they will accept and allow to perform this work. If your conveyancing solicitor is not on your preferred lender's panel, then the lender will not instruct that firm to act in connection with the mortgage. You then have a choice; you could either obtain a mortgage from another lender, or instruct another firm of conveyancer who are on the panel. Generally, it is cheaper to have the same firm act both for you and your lender, but you could also choose to persist with both your first choice of lender and solicitor, and pay for a lawyer selected by the lender to carry out the relevant legal work. Be aware of the following, if you choose to remain with your first choice of law firm:

• You must now pay the lender's costs in addition to your own
• You will not get any priority from the lender's solicitors, as they will have many other cases underway, and you are unable contact these solicitors directly