I have given 2 months notice to my existing landlord and must leave my rented flat in Godstone by 1/9/2025. Conveyancing for my house purchase is progressing. How realistic is it to complete in three weeks as I wish to avoid having to find temporary accommodation?

It is unwise to provide notice for your lease unless you have exchanged. Assuming that you have not already done so, contact to your lawyer and request that they chase the sellers solicitors, try to an agreed time frame that everyone will aim towards

We were going to get a OIP from HSBC this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do HSBC recommend any Godstone solicitors on the HSBC conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?

You will need to appoint Godstone solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the HSBC conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and HSBC through the process.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Godstone. I have a mortgage offer with Bank of Ireland. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Bank of Ireland, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel.

I recently had an offer accepted on an apartment in Godstone. My mortgage broker recommended their conveyancers. I paid an advanced payment of £175. Not long after, the property lawyer contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Nationwide panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

I need some fast conveyancing in Godstone as I am under pressure to exchange contracts within 2 weeks. A home loan is not required. Is it possible to escape the need for conveyancing searches to save fees and time?

As you are are a cash buyer you have the choice not to do searches although no conveyancer would recommend that you don't. Drawing on our experience of conveyancing in Godstone the following are examples of what can arise and adversely affect future mortgageability: Refused Planning Applications, Overdue Charges, Overdue Grants, Road Schemes,...

Is it best to instruct a Godstone conveyancing lawyer based in the location that I am buying? We have a good friend who can deal with the legal formalities however they are based 300kilometers drive away.

The benefit of a high street Godstone conveyancing firm is that you can drop in to execute documents, present your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local knowledge which is a bonus. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust instructed your friend and in the main were impressed that must surpass using an unfamiliar Godstone conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being local.

Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Godstone. Before I set the wheels in motion I want to be sure as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Godstone - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title. For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

After months of negotiations we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Godstone. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?

if there is a missing landlord or if there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to determine the price payable.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Godstone residence is 223 Brighton Road in September 2013. The premium payable for the acquisition freehold of the properties should be £10,934 (Ten thousand,nine hundred and thirty four pounds) This case affected 3 flats. The unexpired lease term was 75 years.