We're in Aylesford, FTBs purchasing with a mortgage (lender is , and our solicitor is on the conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.

My wife and I are buying a house in Aylesford. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a conveyancer? At some point we will need to send funds into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our monies?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Aylesford. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about the lender. How do I make a complaint?

Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. In most cases complaints to a lender are resolved very quickly. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.

I had an offer accepted on an apartment in Aylesford on , valuation was booked five days after, all came back fine. Property lawyer retained, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?

A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

My partner and I are close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our property in Aylesford and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. A high street Aylesford conveyancer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the purchasers used a factory type conveyancing firm rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Aylesford. We have lived in Aylesford for six years we know that this is a non issue. Should we get in touch with our local Authority to obtain clarification need.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm already. What do they say? You need to enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same illness)

My father-in-law has recommend that I instruct his conveyancers in Aylesford. Should I find my own property lawyer?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Aylesford conveyancing lawyer the ideal way to find a conveyancing lawyer is to seek recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the firm that you are are thinking of instructing.

I bought a ground floor flat in Aylesford, conveyancing having been completed 1995. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Equivalent flats in Aylesford with over 90 years remaining are worth £165,000. The ground rent is £45 per annum. The lease ceases on 21st October 50

With just 50 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to span between £36,100 and £41,800 plus costs.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed investigations. Do not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional issues that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information without first getting professional advice.