I have given 8 weeks notice to my existing landlord and must vacate my let out flat in Colchester by the end of next month. Conveyancing on my purchase is progressing. Can I complete in six weeks as don't want to have to move into temporary accommodation?

It is unwise to give notice for your tenancy unless you have exchanged. Assuming that you have not previously done so, update to your conveyancer and urge them to they apply pressure on the sellers solicitors, try to get a realistic time scale from them that all parties will aim towards

We wanted to use a property lawyer in Colchester for our home move. Our broker has since notified us that our mortgage company won't deal with them. Surely this is unfair competition?

Before the recession most banks had a different appetite for risk. Almost all Colchester conveyancing firms would have been on most bank panels. The FSA in 2010 completed a thematic investigation into mortgage fraud which concluded: know the conveyancing solicitors dealt with. Consequently, mortgage companies are increasingly seeing more data from law firms about their operations and the individuals who work for them as well as establishing certain criteria such a completing on a minimum number of transactions. Many Colchester conveyancing firms that have been excluded from lender panels have Unblemished track record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Colchester is one of the hundreds of areas where the conveyancers we list are are authorised to act for .

I am helping my aunt sell her property in Colchester. Will the solicitor commission an energy assessment or should I organise this?

Following the abolition of Home Packs, energy assessments was left as a mandatory element of moving property. An EPC should be to hand in advance of the property being marketed. This is not a task that conveyancers normally arrange. Where you are using a Colchester conveyancing lawyer they might help arrange EPC’s given their relationships with reputable Colchester providers

My bid for a property was accepted at auction in Colchester. Conveyancing is required. What are my next steps?

Having legally committed yourself to purchase you must instruct a conveyancing lawyer quickly as you now have a fast approaching deadline in which to complete the deal. Every auction property will ordinarily have an associated legal pack. This will include most,if not all of the paperwork that your conveyancer requires. Where you are dealing with leasehold premises the auction papers should include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing documentation relating to a leasehold property. You should hand this to your appointed conveyancing solicitor as soon as possible. You also need to ensure that your finances are in place to complete the transaction on the set completion date.

When it comes to lenders such as , do Colchester have to pay an annual charge to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any mortgage company fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

Am I best advised to go with a Colchester conveyancing lawyer based in the vicinity that I am purchasing? An old friend can conduct the legal formalities however his firm is located over three hundred kilometers away.

The benefit of a high street Colchester conveyancing practice is that you can drop in to execute documents, deliver your identification documents and pester them where appropriate. They will also have local intelligence which is a bonus. That being said it's more important to get someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If you know people who used your friend and in the main were impressed that must outweigh using an unknown Colchester conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being local.

My fiance and I are hoping to buy a four bedroom maisonettein Colchester with a loan from a mortgage company. We have a lawyer in Colchester yet our bank says he's not on their "panel". Apparently we need to choose one of the our mortgage company panel firms or keep our Colchester conveyancer and incur the extra legals for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?

Unfortunately,no. The lender home loan offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the mortgage company's conveyancing panel. Until recently, most mortgage companies had open panels, including many conveyancing solicitors in Colchester : a mortgagee 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 lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for your lender.