I opted for a local firm for my conveyancing in Billingham last week. After carefully reading the Ts and Cs it is apparent thatwe are liable for costs even where the conveyance does not complete. Should I ditch them and appoint a web based lawyer offering no-sale-no-fee conveyancing in Billingham?

Generally there is a concession along the lines that if "No Completion No Fee" is offered then the fee levels will generally be uplifted to neutralise those conveyances that do not go ahead. You should be mindful that these promotions tend not to protect you from expenditure such as Billingham conveyancing search costs.

A relative suggested that where I am buying in Billingham I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

This is a search is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Billingham conveyancing searches. It is not a small document of about 40 pages, listing and detailing significant information about Billingham around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime statistics, Billingham Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information about Billingham.

In my capacity as executor for the estate of my grandmother I am selling a property in Cardiff but reside in Billingham. My conveyancer (who is 260 miles awayrequires that I execute a stat dec prior to completion. Can you recommend a conveyancing practitioner in Billingham who can attest and place their company stamp on the document?

strictly speaking you are not likely to need to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally any notary public or qualified solicitor will do regardless of whether they are located in Billingham

I have just started marketing my basement apartment in Billingham. Conveyancing has not commenced, however I have just received a yearly maintenance charge demand – Do I pay up?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should discharge the invoice as usual given that all rents and maintenance charges will be allotted on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I bought a 2 bed flat in Billingham, conveyancing was carried out in 1995. How much will my lease extension cost? Corresponding flats in Billingham with an extended lease are worth £165,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 levied per year. The lease expires on 21st October 50

You have 50 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £36,100 and £41,800 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed investigations. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

What are the differing property law services that Billingham conveyancing firms handle?

Almost all Billingham conveyancing organisations tend to conduct a wide sphere of legal advice to home and land proprietors, sellers, first time buyers, landlords and tenants assistingwith some of the following:

House sale conveyancing in Billingham and elsewhere in the country Home purchase conveyancing in Billingham and beyond Missing landlord applications by leaseholders to acquire their freehold Complex property law issues Option and Lock-Out Agreements Billingham conveyancing for property being disposed of by a lending institution