We're in Maidstone, First timers buying with a mortgage (lender is HSBC , and our lawyer is on the HSBC conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the HSBC conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer 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 planning on selling our property in Maidstone and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being built on contaminated land. Any local lawyer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers are using a factory type conveyancing practice as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Maidstone. Having lived in Maidstone for 5 years we know that this is a non issue. Do we get in touch with our local Authority to obtain confirmation that there is no issue.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. What do they say? You should check with 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 life insurance to cover that same sickness)

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in Maidstone. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.

Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Maidstone

Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme. Please supply a car parking plan. Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease.

Are there any apps to help search for a Maidstone solicitor on the TSB conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel upto 20kilometers to meet the solicitor.

You can use the facility on this page. Please pick a bank and your location and you will see a number of Maidstone conveyancing lawyers locally. We have detailed some Maidstone conveyancing firms at the bottom of this page and you can ring them to see if they are on the TSB member panel

I am 3 weeks into a residential purchase having been recommend to conveyancers by the high street agent to handle our conveyancing in Maidstone. I am am starting to be disappointed with the quality of service. Can you help me find new lawyers?

A conveyancer would need to be very bad to suggest diss instructing them. Has your loan offer been issued? If so you need to advise them of the new contact details and get the mortgage documents are re-sent. The conveyancer should be on the mortgage company panel to avoid escalating costs and frustration. So that should be your first question of the new lawyers. Our search tool will assist you in finding a bank approved solicitor for your home move in Maidstone