We are purchasing a 1 bedroom apartment in Camden Town with a mortgage. We wish to retain our Camden Town conveyancer, however the lender says she’s not on their "panel". It appears that we have little option but to use one of the mortgage company panel solicitors or continue with our Camden Town lawyer and pay for one of their panel ones to act for them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?

Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your Camden Town conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.

Are the Camden Town conveyancing solicitors identified as being on the Skipton conveyancing panel, together with their details provided by Skipton?

Camden Town conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Skipton conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Skipton directly.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in two weeks back in what was supposed to be a simple, chain free conveyancing. Camden Town is the location of the property. Can you offer any advice?

Flying freeholds in Camden Town are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Camden Town you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Camden Town may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.

My husband and I may need to rent out our Camden Town 1st floor flat temporarily due to taking a sabbatical. We instructed a Camden Town conveyancing firm in 2002 but they have since shut and we did not think at the time seek any guidance as to whether the lease permits subletting. How do we find out?

Notwithstanding that your last Camden Town conveyancing lawyer is no longer around you can review your lease to see if it allows you to sublet the property. The rule is that if the lease is silent, subletting is permitted. There may be a precondition that you must seek consent from your landlord or some other party in advance of subletting. This means that you cannot sublet in the absence of first obtaining permission. The consent should not be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If your lease does not allow you to sublet you should ask your landlord if they are willing to waive this restriction.

Following months of correspondence we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Camden Town. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?

Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a Camden Town conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Camden Town flat is Flat 120, Clare Court Judd Street in August 2013. the Tribunal held that the premium to be paid for the extension of the lease should be £64,650 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 62.79 years.

I'm remortgaging a apartment in Camden Town. I have found my conveyancer's company on the Law Society's list, but I can't find my lawyer's name as listed on the regulator's website. Should I be concerned?

Not all staff in the law firm must be listed by the regulator. Provided there is someone qualified to 'oversee' the work, the actual day-to-day activity can be conducted by unqualified staff.