I am looking to buy a house and require a conveyancing solicitor in East Sussex who is on the The Mortgage Works approved. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a solicitor?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for The Mortgage Works in certain locations such as East Sussex. We dont recommend any particular firm.

I am purchasing my first flat in East Sussex with a loan from Accord Mortgages Ltd. The sellers would not move on the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not disclose to my lawyer about the extras as it may impact my mortgage with the bank. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I was advised by a few property agents in East Sussex to locate a solicitor using your seach tool. What’s the financial inducement for Estate Agents to recommend your lawyers over alternative conveyancing organisations?

We refuse to make any commission for pointing buyers and sellers in our direction. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission because home movers will think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

In my capacity as executor for the will of my grandfather I am selling a property in Neath but I am based in East Sussex. My solicitor (who is 300 kilometers awayneeds me to sign a statutory declaration before completion. Can you recommend a conveyancing solicitor in East Sussex who can attest this legal document for me?

Technically speaking you are unlikely to need to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or qualified solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are based in East Sussex

I today plan to offer on a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have just found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in East Sussex. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in East Sussex are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in East Sussex so you should seriously consider looking for a East Sussex conveyancing practitioner and check that they have experience in transacting on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the freeholder’spermission to carry out changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your solicitor should advise you fully on all the issues.

I inherited a leasehold flat in East Sussex, conveyancing was carried out 6 years ago. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Corresponding flats in East Sussex with over 90 years remaining are worth £211,000. The ground rent is £50 per annum. The lease terminates on 21st October 2093

With 68 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 plus costs.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to provide a more accurate figure without more comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be other issues that need to be taken into account and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.