"There a several benefits of local information when buying or selling in Rotherham. Fridaysmove-recommended Solicitors maintain close links with relevant local authorities. In addition, areas of particular concern or relevancy to Rotherham property are thoroughly investigated.

We have assisted home movers throughout Rotherham, including Conveyancing in S60, S61, S62, S65."

Local issues considered by Rotherham Conveyancing Solicitors:

Disadvantaged Areas in Rotherham

Purchases of property in Rotherham 'disadvantaged areas' are eligible for stamp duty. Local government wards or electoral divisions are used to define the boundaries of these. No stamp duty is payable on residential property purchases where the price paid is under £150,000. It may be necessary to make further enquiries with the local council, if initial searches fail to identify whether a residence lies in a disadvantaged area. 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 Rotherham team today.

Disadvantaged areas in Rotherham include Wath.

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

Lenders maintain panels of law firms to perform mortgage legal work. While these panels were once open, allowing any firm to join, that is no longer the case. Increasingly however, lenders have lowered the number of firms which they will accept and allow to perform this work. If a lender will not instruct a firm you have picked to perform your legal work, you have the following choices; 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. Issues to consider if you intend to swap to a firm on the panel:

• The second firm may have a different fee structure, or higher fees
• Work which the first solicitor has completed already may need to be paid for regardless of your decision.
• Your new conveyancing solicitor may have weaker local knowledge.

Looking for a mortgage lender with a branch in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, try:

• Halifax, 17, Howard Street, S65 1YT - Tel: 08456 814088
• Barnsley Building Society, 33, Effingham Street, S65 1AL - Tel: 0845 1200 898

Mining Searches

Underground workings have largely ceased, but a few mines are still operating. Although subsidence following the collapse of old workings will generally have already taken place, further ground movement may still occur. Official searches provide insurance cover for a house, protecting against a loss of value up to fifty thousand pounds. Coal is now often worked by the opencast method. This involves removal of soil and 'overburden' above the coal, which is then removed with heavy excavators. Environmental pollution is also often associated with old mine-workings, either from discarded waste or spoil, or as by-products if ore was smelted locally. Should a search reveal former mining activity in close proximity then a further survey may be required. Workings associated with other minerals mined in various, more isolated parts of the UK, also lack a central registry or easy database. As these areas are less residential however, there is less risk of such a mine impacting a Rotherham house.