The owners of the home we are looking to purchase have appointed a conveyancing solicitor in Ham who has insisted on a lock out contract with a deposit of 5k. Are such contracts promoted for Ham conveyancing transactions?

This form of arrangement is not the norm in Ham, conveyancers are not keen on them as they detract from focusing on the primary focus, namely conveyancing and if you end up losing your deposit then the solicitor at best left with an upset client and at worst a litigious one. Secondly, there is no guarantee that just because the proprietor has executed an exclusivity contract they will complete the sale with you. They may be tempted to break the agreement if they receive sufficient offer to do so because an aggrieved purchaser with the benefit of a exclusivitycontract will still be obliged show losses as a consequence of the breach and these may not equalise the financial benefit that the owner may obtain by breaching the agreement, no matter how morally unworthy it undoubtedly is.

We note that you have a search directory identifying solicitors on the conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I instruct them for our own conveyancing in Ham?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Ham.

I used Arc property Solicitors several years ago for my conveyancing in Ham. Now, I need my files but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Ham of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build flat in Ham. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Ham

Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore.

My step-father has encouraged me to use his conveyancing solicitors in Ham. Do I take his guidance?

No doubt it’s preferable to find a conveyancing solicitor is to seek recommendations from friends or family who have actually previously instructed the conveyancer you're contemplating using.