My wife and I are about to complete on the purchase of a house in Sheerness but as a result of wreckage from a small fire at the property I have managed to agree compensation from the seller of £3k in the form of a reduction in the price. I had intended this to be addressed as part of the conveyancing process however will not agree to this. Should they have been notified?

Your being on a approved list is required to advise of any variations to the sale price. If you prohibit your to disclose the reduction to then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, and you would have to appoint a new for your conveyancing in Sheerness.

Is it the case that all Sheerness CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the conveyancing list of approved solicitors?

Some major banks and building societies now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to remain on their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.

My husband and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from as we intend to carry out improvements to our house in Sheerness. Are we obliged to choose a bricks and mortar Sheerness solicitor on the conveyancing panel to handle the paperwork?

don't usually instruct firms on their conveyancing panel to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the conveyancing panel.

I can not work out if my mortgage offer obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called my Sheerness bank branch on a couple of occasions and was told it does not impact the mortgage offer and they will lend. My Sheerness conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- called and was told they refuse to lend based on their specific requirements. I have no idea who is right.

Your has to follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook section two specifications for your lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

I used Wolstenholmes a few years ago for my conveyancing in Sheerness. I now require my file but the law firm has closed. What do I do?

Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Sheerness of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

In my capacity as executor for the will of my grandfather I am disposing of a house in Cardiff but live in Sheerness. My solicitor (based 250 kilometers awayneeds me to execute a statutory declaration prior to completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing lawyer in Sheerness to attest this legal document for me?

Technically speaking you are not likely to be required to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily or notary public or solicitor will do regardless of whether they are located in Sheerness

I acquired a ground floor flat in Sheerness, conveyancing having been completed 3 years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Sheerness with over 90 years remaining are worth £165,000. The ground rent is £45 per annum. The lease ends on 21st October 50

With 50 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to range 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 extending a lease, but we are not able to supply the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive investigations. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other 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 based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.