I am progressing with the sale of my maisonette in Collier Row and the EA has just e-mailed to say that the purchasers are appointing a new law firm. The excuse is that the lender will only work with property lawyers on their approved list. On what basis would a leading mortgage company only engage with specific lawyers rather the firm that they want to choose for their conveyancing in Collier Row ?

Banks have always had panels of law firms they are content to work with, but in the last few years big names such as Yorkshire Building Society, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for more than 15 years.

Lending institutions justify this action to a rise in fraud as the reason for the reduction – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to monitor. Banks tend not to disclose how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms are unaware that they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. The buyers are not going to have any sway in the decision.

I have given 2 months notice to my existing landlord and must be out of my rented flat in Collier Row by 26/1/2026. Conveyancing for my house purchase has just started. Is it possible to complete in six weeks as I wish to avoid having to find short term accommodation?

The normal practice is not to serve notice for your tenancy until your lawyer suggests that you should. If you have not previously done so, notify to your lawyer and urge them to they cajole the sellers side, try to get a realistic time scale from them that everyone will aim towards

We see that you have a search directory listing solicitors on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a commission if I instruct them for our conveyancing in Collier Row?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Nationwide conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Collier Row.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one round the corner in Collier Row I like with open areas and railway links nearby, however it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Collier Row suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a short lease?

Should you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease will be problematic. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to choosing a Collier Row conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Collier Row conveyancing firm) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you talk with several firms including non Collier Row conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions might be of use:

If they are not ALEP accredited then why not?

Having spent months of negotiations we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Collier Row. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Collier Row conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Collier Row flat is 37 Lodge Court High Street in November 2013. the decision of the LVT was that the premium to be paid for the new lease was £25,559 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 57.5 years.