I am hoping to receive a mortgage offer from Nat West. I intend to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer in Kent. Does the Nat West Conveyancing panel include Licensed Conveyancers?

The Nat West approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

As someone clueless as to the Kent conveyancing process what’s your top tip you can impart for the legal transfer of property in Kent

You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Kent and elsewhere in England and Wales is an adversarial process. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there is lots of opportunity for confrontation between you and others involved in the legal transfer of property. E.g., the seller, selling agent and sometimes your lender. Selecting a lawyer for your conveyancing in Kent is a critical decision as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONLY party in the legal process whose responsibility is to act in your legal interests and to protect you.

On occasion a potential adversary may attempt to sway you that you should follow their advice. As an example, the selling agent may claim to be assisting by suggesting your lawyer is wrong. Or your mortgage broker may advise you to do something that is against your conveyancers guidance. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties when it comes to the legal transfer of property.

I need some fast conveyancing in Kent as I am under pressure to exchange contracts within 4 weeks. A mortgage is not required. Is it possible to decline from having conveyancing searches to save fees and time?

As you are are a cash purchaser you are at free not to do searches although no solicitor would recommend that you don't. Drawing on years of experience of conveyancing in Kent the following are examples of issues that can arise and therefore affect the marketability of the property: Refused Planning Applications, Overdue Fees, Overdue Grants, Road Schemes,...

I used Stirling Law several years past for my conveyancing in Kent. I now require my file but the law firm has closed. What do I do?

Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate 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 Kent of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and identified one round the corner in Kent I like with amenity areas and station nearby, however it only has 61 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Kent for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a short lease?

Should you require a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term may be problematic. Reduce the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.