Knowledge of the local Brent area is key to an easier, faster move. Associations with local authorities and other Brent information sources, such as water and drainage providers, are maintained by our Solicitors.

We have assisted home movers throughout Brent, including Conveyancing in NW10.

Does your Brent purchase qualify for Stamp Duty Relief?

Nearly two thousand areas in England and Wales are eligible for stamp duty relief. These are based on electoral divisions and local government wards. These disadvantaged areas do not always coincide with postcode districts, so the postcode search tool cannot always be relied on. Normal rates of stamp duty apply for purchases greater than £150k. A postcode search will usually determine whether a home being sold for less than the threshold is eligible. This relief is not generally available on commercial property, but some relief may be available for 'mixed use' premises such as a shop with a flat above.

Disadvantaged areas in Brent include College Park and Old Oak, Harlesden, Stonebridge, Willesden Green.

The consequences of your solicitor not being on your Mortgage Lender's panel

Lenders once permitted any solicitors' firm to join their panel. These panels were established so that firms could join and thereby perform legal work on mortgages on behalf of lenders. Increasingly however, lenders have lowered the number of firms which they will accept and allow to perform this work. If your Brent 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 can either select a different lender or solicitor. It is possible to continue with your original choices, but your lender will expect you to pay for the legal costs relating to the mortgage. Bear in mind that it is usually more efficient and less expensive for the same firm act for you and your lender. If you choose to remain with your first choice of Brent-based solicitor, consider the following:

• Your lenders will instruct another firm, and you will have to pay their costs in addition to your own
• Your solicitor will have to send documents and information to the other solicitors, and wait for a response, which can cause delays
• Your case will be one of many which the lender's solicitors are dealing with, so it will be more difficult to engineer any priority treatment
• You cannot contact these solicitors directly, as they will be acting for the lender, not for you

Do you know if your Brent new home purchase is designated an at risk conservation area?

Are you thinking of buying a house or flat in a conservation area in Brent? Conservation areas are designated by Councils to preside over change in areas that people would like to protect from incongruous development. Unfortunately however, many are not being properly managed e.g. poorly maintained roads and pavements.

The following conservation areas are reported as at risk:

• Harlesden - poor, medium vulnerability and deteriorating.
• Kilburn - poor, low vulnerability and deteriorating.