"Awareness of an area's issues and concerns can mean the difference between a stress-free move, and a drawn-out and difficult process. Our Property Lawyers use their local knowledge and expertise to improve your home-moving experience and they pay close attention to issues commonly arising during Ickenham transactions."

Local issues considered by Ickenham Conveyancing Solicitors:

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 Ickenham solicitors who requested to be added to their panel. Recently, lenders have changed the criteria for the firms which they will accept on their panels. They have also reduced the size of their panels, removing firms which do not carry out much Conveyancing work or which they consider to have proved unsatisfactory in the past. 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. Consider these points if you choose to change firms:

• Additional fees may be charged by the new firm which your original lawyers considered to be inclusive.
• Your second choice of firm may have less local knowledge, or be harder to meet in person.

Disadvantaged Areas in Ickenham

The government has designated certain areas as 'disadvantaged areas' and property purchases in such areas may qualify for relief from stamp duty. 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. Normal rates of stamp duty apply for purchases greater than £150k. 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.

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

Official Searches in Ickenham

If your are intending to buy a property in Ickenham your lawyer will conduct Searches (Con 29 enquiries, LLC1 and Con29 Part 2). The Local Authority for Ickenham is London Borough of Hillingdon Council, Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 1UW. Tel: