When buying or selling in the area, who you know matters as much as what you know. Fridaysmove's Highgate Conveyancing team is able to employ their local knowledge to help you move home sooner.

What are the consequences if your solicitor is not on your 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. More recently, lenders have begun to remove firms which have either not completed many conveyancing transactions or have failed to meet other criteria. These options are available to any homebuyer whose solicitor is not on their lender's panel:

• Obtain a mortgage from a less restrictive lender
• Instruct a solicitor whom your lender accepts
• Pay the lenders costs for their solicitor in addition to your own

It is usually cheaper to have the same firm act both for you and your lender, and carry out all the conveyancing work in connection with a purchase and the mortgage. If you decide to instruct another firm because they are on your lender's panel, you should bear in mind the following:

• The new firm might charge more or may charge additional fees.
• You might still have to pay your old firm for work they have already completed.
• The new firm may have no knowledge of the Highgate area.

Qualifying for stamp duty relief in Highgate

Regions within Highgate have been qualified as 'disadvantaged areas' eligible for stamp duty relief. In England and Wales, they are based on electoral wards. No stamp duty is due for houses bought in a Highgate disadvantaged area under the £150k threshold. Note that normal rates of duty apply sales above £150,000. A postcode search is worth undertaking to determine whether a residence under the £150k threshold is in a Disadvantaged area.

Need more information regarding stamp duty relief? Call our specialist Highgate team today.

Official Local Authority Searches

If your are looking to purchase a property in Highgate a property lawyer must conduct Local Authority Searches. The Local Authority for Highgate is London Borough of Haringey Council, Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8LE. Tel: 020 8489 0006