Awareness of an area's issues and concerns can mean the difference between a stress-free move, and a drawn-out and difficult process. Relevant and up-to-date area information is gathered by our Property Lawyers thanks to their network of Kentish Town contacts. With regard to issues commonly arising during Kentish Town home-moves, your Solicitor will also utilise their area experience to anticipate and resolve these before they affect you.

Official Searches

When purchasing a property in Kentish Town a property lawyer is required to commission Local Authority Searches. The Local Authority for Kentish Town is London Borough of Camden Council, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London, WC1H 9JE. Tel: 020 7974 4446

Does your Kentish Town purchase qualify for Stamp Duty Relief?

Stamp duty relief may be available for property purchases in Kentish Town labelled as 'disadvantaged areas'. Areas designated are identified by local government ward or electoral divisions. Residential purchases under £150,000 may be eligible for stamp duty relief. If an online search cannot determine whether a Kentish Town home is located in a disadvantaged area, clarification should be sought from the local council. For a purchase below the threshold, it is worth making a simple postcode search to find out if a property is in a disadvantaged area. 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.

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. 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. Consider these issues if you are intending to stay with your solicitor rather than opt for your mortgage lender's choice:

• You will have to pay your lender's legal costs
• By being required to send documents to the lender's solicitors, delays will inevitably occur
• You will be unable to contact the lender's firm directly, as they will be acting for the lender rather than you