For a hassle-free sale or purchase in Epsom and Ewell, local knowledge matters. Your Property Lawyer will use their working associations with the local authority and other bodies to deliver better results and they pay close attention to issues commonly arising during Epsom and Ewell transactions.

My solicitor is not on my Lender's panel - what do I do?

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 lender does not accept your chosen solicitor, you must make a decision as to how to proceed; 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. Issues to consider if you intend to swap to a firm on the panel:

• The second firm may have a different fee structure, or higher fees
• Work which the first solicitor has completed already may need to be paid for regardless of your decision.
• Your new conveyancing solicitor may have weaker local knowledge.

Is your Epsom and Ewell propsepective new home in a designated at risk conservation area?

Local authorities designate conservation areas to oversee change in residential areas that people would like to protect from unsympathetic development. Unfortunately however, many are being neglected e.g. alterations to front elevations like removal of original bay windows.

The following conservation areas are reported as at risk:

• Adelphi Road, Epsom - poor, low vulnerability and deteriorating.
• West Park, Epsom - very bad, low vulnerability and improving significantly.
• Lintons Lane, Epsom - poor, low vulnerability and deteriorating.

Tree Preservation Orders

The existence of any Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is found by a home buyer's Conveyancing Solicitor when making the local search. The opinion of a Epsom and Ewell tree surgeon or other expert should generally be requested, regardless of whether council consent is granted. Conditions placed on developers requiring them to plant trees during construction do not necessarily imply a TPO is in place.