"To improve your chances of a trouble-free move in Leicestershire, local knowledge matters. Our Solicitors' maintain a network of Leicestershire contacts. In addition, areas of particular concern or relevancy to Leicestershire property are thoroughly investigated.

We have assisted home movers throughout Leicestershire, including Conveyancing in CV13, DE74, LE10, LE11, LE13, LE16, LE17, LE18, LE2, LE6, LE65, LE67, LE7, LE8, LE9, LE95."

Local issues considered by Leicestershire Conveyancing Solicitors:

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. Lenders have also reduced the size of their panels, setting more restrictive criteria for membership. These options are available to any homebuyer whose solicitor is not on their lender's panel:

• 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. Be aware of the following, if you choose to remain with your first choice of law firm:

• You must now pay the lender's costs in addition to your own
• You will not get any priority from the lender's solicitors, as they will have many other cases underway, and you are unable contact these solicitors directly

Do you know if your Leicestershire new home could be located in an at risk conservation area?

Conservation areas are designated by Local Authorities to preside over change in locales that people wish to protect from decay. Unfortunately however, many are not being properly managed e.g. incongruous extensions.

The following conservation areas are reported as at risk:

• Ratby - very bad, low vulnerability and deteriorating.
• Stoke Golding - very bad, low vulnerability and deteriorating.
• Shelthorpe - poor, low vulnerability and deteriorating.
• Shepshed - poor, low vulnerability and deteriorating.

Council Tax Rates in Leicestershire

During their enquiries, the buyers solicitor will ask the conveyancer acting for the seller to confirm the council tax banding of the property. Council Tax rates for Leicestershire are set by Charnwood Council. The bandings for 2012/13 are* -

• Band A - £977
• Band B - £1139
• Band C - £1302
• Band D - £1465
• Band E - £1790
• Band F - £2116
• Band G - £2442
• Band H - £2930

*Source - www.communities.gov.uk