The vendors of the house we are hoping to buy hired a conveyancing solicitor in South Acton who has suggested a preliminary agreement with a payment 6,000. Are such agreements sensible?

There are two main concerns with executing a lock out agreement (also termed a shut-out contract) is that it can distract from moving forward with the conveyancing process, so unless it requires minimal or no negotiation then it could transpire to be a cause of frustration and delay. It is not strongly advocated amongst South Acton conveyancing lawyers as a result. A supplemental issue is the extent of the remedies available - a jilted buyer should not expect to win an injunction to stop the vendor completing the sale to a third party, so the only remedy available under the contract will be the reimbursement of abortive charges and, in limited situations, the additional payment of penalties.

I am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and identified one close by in South Acton I like with a park and railway links nearby, however it's only got 49 years on the lease. There is not much else in South Acton in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

If you require a home loan that many years may be an issue. Discount the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you may request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this matter.

Should I be concerned that estate agents that I am dealing with are encouraging me to use an online conveyancing firm rather than a High Street South Acton conveyancing firm?

As with lots of service providers, often suggestions from family and friends can be worth their weight in gold. But there are lots of players in a conveyancing deal; estate agents, mortgage brokers and banks might all put forward conveyancers to retain. Sometimes these lawyers might be known to one of the organisations as one of the best in their field, but sometimes there may be a financial incentive behind the recommendation. You are at liberty to select your preferred conveyancer. However, bear in mind that many mortgage providers specify a panel list of law firms you have to use for the mortgage related work in your conveyancing.

As co-executor for the will of my aunt I am disposing of a house in Cardiff but I am based in South Acton. My lawyer (based 250 kilometers from mehas requested that I execute a stat dec before the transaction finalising. Could you suggest a conveyancing lawyer in South Acton to witness and place their company stamp on the document?

strictly speaking you should not be required to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily any notary public or qualified solicitor will be fine regardless of whether they are South Acton based

Is there a distinction between surveying and conveyancing in South Acton?

Conveyancing - in South Acton or elsewhere - is the legal term given to transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It involves the checking of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you’re buying and will help you discover the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you leverage for reducing the price down or asking the vendor to fix the defects before you complete your move.