My mortgage broker has requested my Kempshott law firm’s panel reference for the HSBC conveyancing panel. Can you suggest how I obtain this. I have tried my local Kempshott branch but they have not responded to me.

The sensible thing to do is ask for this information from your Kempshott property lawyer . They maintain a central record lender panel numbers.

I am under pressure from the seller of a property in Kempshott to sign contracts within four weeks. What can I do to speed up the conveyancing process?

First, If the seller is applying a tight deadline to sign contracts it is advisable to make sure that your conveyancer is familiar with the location as they will make use of local contacts and knowledge. It is even conceivable that they would have transacted previoushomes in the same street. You would be best advised to use a Kempshott conveyancing solicitor. In addition, make sure that the lawyer is on the on the approved list for your mortgage company. It is claimed that 18% of Kempshott conveyancing transactions are suspended or derailed after discovering a purchaser’s solicitor was not on their banks member panel. This can often result in the transaction being frustrated by almost three weeks. It is believed that this issue affects approximately one hundred thousand home sales annually. Almost all Kempshott conveyancing firms can not act for certain mortgage companies so do check as early as possible.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and found one close by in Kempshott I like with a park and railway links in the vicinity, however it only has 61 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Kempshott suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?

Should you require a home loan the shortness of the lease will likely be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you may ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.

We're new on the property ladder - agreed a price, but the selling agent told us that the seller will only move forward if we use the agent's chosen lawyers as they want an ‘expedited deal’. My instinct tells me that we should use a local solicitor accustomed to conveyancing in Kempshott

It is highly unlikely the sellers are driving this. If they desire ‘a quick sale', alienating a serious purchaser is not the way to achieve this. Speak to the owners direct and make the point that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to go, with finances in place © you do not need to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you intend to appoint your own,trusted Kempshott conveyancing firm - rather thanthe ones that will provide the negotiator at the agency a referral fee or hit his conveyancing targets demanded by HQ.

I’m about to sell my ground floor apartment in Kempshott.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have recently received a half-yearly service charge invoice – Do I pay up?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should clear the maintenance contribution as you normally would as all rents and maintenance invoices will be allottedon completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until 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