Whether you are buying or selling, awareness of local considerations will positive impact the likelihood of a successful sale or purchase. Our Conveyancing specialists in Hornsey Rise have close working associations with a broad range of local information sources. Issues frequently arising in the region are also taken into consideration, thanks to this local expertise.

What are the consequences if your solicitor is not on your Lender's panel?

Many lenders, and particularly nationwide banks, were once willing to instruct any solicitors who requested to be added to their panel. However, mortgage lenders have started removing firms which do not carry out much work for them, or have not met certain additional criteria. If your lender does not accept your chosen solicitor, you must make a decision as to how to proceed:

• Instruct another firm who is on your lender's panel, or,
• Find a mortgage from a different lender

You could also choose to work with your current solicitor, but you will have to pay the lender's costs in addition to your own, as they will instruct a member of their panel. If you do not switch firms, your lenders will instruct a solicitor themselves. You are expected to pay these costs in addition to your own, and as this firm may have a heavy caseload with many other matters underway, you will not have the same ability to stay abreast of developments and apply more pressure if delays occur.

Local Authority Searches in Hornsey Rise

If your are purchasing a home in Hornsey Rise your conveyancer is required to commission Official Local Authority Searches. The Local Authority for Hornsey Rise is London Borough of Islington Council, Contact Islington, 222 Upper Street, London, N1 1XR. Tel: 020 7527 2003

Qualifying for stamp duty relief in Hornsey Rise

Stamp duty relief may be available in nearly 2,000 'disadvantaged areas' nationwide. Local government wards or electoral divisions are used to define the boundaries of these. These wards do not always coincide with postcode districts, so the postcode search tool cannot always be relied on. Above this designated limit of £150k, the normal rates of duty apply, and no further relief may be available. A postcode search is worth undertaking to determine whether a residence under the £150k threshold is in a Disadvantaged area. This search may not be 100% reliable, particularly in the case of new builds.