Me and my wife are buying a maisonette in Knotty Ash. My lawyer is not listed on the bank conveyancing panel. Is it possible for me to appoint my Knotty Ash conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the mortgage company list of approved lawyers?

Various options include

• Proceed with your chosen Knotty Ash solicitor but your bank will no doubt retain a conveyancer from their approved list. The net result is additional charges and probable interruption.
• Get a new conveyancing practitioner to act in the purchase, making sure they are on the bank conveyancing panel.
• Convince your lawyer to pull out all the stops to get accepted on the lender’s panel of solicitors

I have given 8 weeks notice to my current landlord and have to be out of my let out property in Knotty Ash by the end of next month. Conveyancing for my house purchase is underway. Is it possible to complete in 4 weeks as don't want to have to move into temporary accommodation?

The normal practice is not to give notice for your lease until your lawyer suggests that you should. If you have not already done so, notify to your lawyer and request that they chase the sellers solicitors, try to get a realistic time scale from them that everyone will look towards

I am considering applying for a Santander mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) in Knotty Ash with 70% loan to value. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Santander ?

There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor, but Santander will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is greater potential for delays and confusion with an additional lawyer added to the mix, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.

I am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £235,500 and found one near me in Knotty Ash I like with amenity areas and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 49 years on the lease. There is not much else in Knotty Ash for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you require a home loan the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you can request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.

Given that I will soon part with hundreds of thousands of pounds on a two bedroom apartment in Knotty Ash I would like to talk to a lawyer concerning thehome move before appointing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?

Absolutely - we would be delighted to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the lawyer who will be doing your conveyancing in Knotty Ash.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique individual, not a case reference. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are calculated and presented to you for your conveyancing in Knotty Ash should be the figure that you are charged.