We are expecting a mortgage offer soon. The bank mentioned the mortgage came with free conveyancing. Does this mean I have to use their panel conveyancer as I would much rather instruct a specialised conveyancing solicitor in Greenhithe?

Do check but the chances are that appoint one of their panel lawyers if you want the "fee-free" deal. Speak to the mortgage company to explore if they allow a cash alternative. Some lenders have previously offered a £250 cashback as a further option in which case you could put that amount towards your preferred conveyancing solicitor near Greenhithe.

My wife and I are buying a house in Greenhithe. It might be a silly question but how we can trust a solicitor? At some point we have to deposit funds into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our deposit?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as Principality, do Greenhithe solicitors face an annual charge to be on the list of approved solicitors?

We are unaware of any bank fees to register on their list of approved firms, although some do levy an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

I can not fathom if my bank obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called into my local Greenhithe building society branch on a couple of occasions and was advised it wasn't an issue and they will lend. My Greenhithe conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called to say that they refuse to lend in accordance with their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?

Your conveyancing practitioner has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 conditions for your bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.

I am purchasing my first flat in Greenhithe with a mortgage from Nationwide Building Society. The sellers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The sale representative advised me not inform my lawyer about the deal as it will put at risk my loan with the bank. Is this normal?.

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 am a fortnight into a residential purchase having been recommend to conveyancers by the high street agent to do our conveyancing in Greenhithe. We are not happy. Can you you assist me in finding new conveyancers?

A conveyancer would need to be really poor in order to consider replacing them. Has the mortgage been generated? If so you will need to advise them of the new contact details and ensure the loan are re-sent. The conveyancer needs to be on the mortgage company panel to avoid escalating costs and complications. So that should be your starting point. Our search tool should assist you in finding a bank approved solicitor for your conveyancing in Greenhithe

I am attracted to a two maisonettes in Greenhithe both have about fifty years unexpired on the lease term. Will this present a problem?

There are plenty of short leases in Greenhithe. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a prescribed time frame. As a lease shortens the saleability of the lease reduces and it becomes more expensive to extend the lease. This is why it is advisable to increase the term of the lease. More often than not it is difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a difficult process. We recommend you seek professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this area.

Following years of negotiations we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Greenhithe. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

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

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Greenhithe flat is Various @ Colombus Square in January 2012. the Tribunal calculated the premiums to be paid for new leases for each of the flats in Mariners Walk to be £3822 and the premium to be paid for the new lease of 2 Knights Court to be £4439. This case related to 13 flats. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 76 years.