The conveyancer who dealt with my former purchase has given a fee calculation of £1350 for fixed fee conveyancing in Rotherhithe. I’m looking to sell a Edwardian house for £200,000. Is this over the top? Is it in excess of what I should be paying for conveyancing in Rotherhithe?

The costs illustration is fractionally on the steep side. If you are content to expend time contrasting fee on a like for like basis you could get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by say a hundred pounds. On the other hand, you mightcome to rue opting for an an unknown conveyancer. Remember to check the solicitor can represent your bank. You can utilise our search tool to get a quote a Rotherhithe conveyancing firm on the banks approved list of lawyers which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Rotherhithe.

Are all Rotherhithe Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Skipton conveyancing panel?

It is true that some banks and building societies now use CQS as the kick off point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to join their panels.

We previously appointed solicitors located in Rotherhithe on the RBS solicitor approved list. They have just billed me a separate sum for dealing with the RBS mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by RBS?

Unfortunately, so long as it is in their Terms of Engagement or estimate then yes your conveyancing practitioner is entitled to charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by RBS but by your Rotherhithe lawyer. Some firms on the RBS panel will quote ’dealing with mortgage’ fee but many firms include it on their overall fee.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Rotherhithe. I have a mortgage agreed with Aldermore. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use 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 Aldermore, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Aldermore conveyancing panel.

I have todaybecome aware that Wolstenholmes have been shut down. They conducted my conveyancing in Rotherhithe for a purchase of a leasehold apartment 12 months ago. How can I establish that my home is in my name in the name of the former proprietor?

The easiest method to check if the premises is registered to you, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Rotherhithe conveyancing specialists.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a quick, chain free conveyancing. Rotherhithe is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Rotherhithe are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Rotherhithe you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Rotherhithe may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

I only have 72 years remaining on my lease in Rotherhithe. I am keen to extend my lease but my landlord is missing. What should I do?

If you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be extended by the Court. You will be obliged to prove that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to locate the landlord. In some cases an enquiry agent may be helpful to conduct investigations and prepare an expert document which can be used as evidence that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer both on devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Rotherhithe.

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

if there is a missing landlord or where 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 LVT to decide the price.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Rotherhithe residence is 12, 14 & 16 Hull Close in May 2010. the Tribunal determined that the premium payable for the acquisition of the freehold to the subject premises was the sum of £18,300 This case related to 3 flats. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 101.61 years.