My husband and I are buying a 3 bedroom flat in Hurstpierpoint with a mortgage. We would like to retain our Hurstpierpoint solicitor, however the bank says she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the lender panel firms or retain our Hurstpierpoint conveyancing practitioner as well as pay for one of their panel firms to act for them. We regard this is unjust; is there anything we can do?

Unfortunately,no. Your mortgage offer 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 Hurstpierpoint conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.

My partner and I are acquiring a newly built flat in Hurstpierpoint and my solicitor is informing me that she has to the mortgage company to disclose incentives from the developer. I am on a tight deadline to exchange and I have no desire to prolong matters. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your conveyancing practitioner. A precondition to being on a bank panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £235,500 and found one round the corner in Hurstpierpoint I like with a park and transport links in the vicinity, however it only has 52 years on the lease. There is not much else in Hurstpierpoint for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?

Should you require a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will be an issue. Discount the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you can request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

How simple is it to switch firm as I need to retain a firm on the Aldermore conveyancing list. I had appointed a local conveyancing solicitor in Hurstpierpoint round the corner but the firm is not approved by Aldermore

It would be our pleasure to help you find a conveyancing solicitor in Hurstpierpoint on the Aldermore panel. Please note that the law firms that we work with do not pay us a referral fee if you instruct them and are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority who oversee all conveyancing solicitors in Hurstpierpoint. In utilising search facility on this page, you can compare and instruct different solicitors and conveyancers both nationally and in Hurstpierpoint.

Do I cancel my mortgage payments with Yorkshire BS as soon as a completion date for my sale in Hurstpierpoint has been agreed?

You would be well advised to keep paying any mortgage sums to Yorkshire BS pending the mortgage being repaid on completion as part of your Hurstpierpoint conveyancing.