Me and my partner are soon to complete on the purchase of a property in Kettering but as a consequence of damage from the recent storms I have was able negotiate compensation from the current proprietors in the sum of £2k taking the form of a reduction in the price. This was going to be addressed as part of the conveyancing process but Barclays are not allowing this. Why were they approached?

Your conveyancing practitioner being on a Barclays approved list is obliged to advise Barclays of any changes to the purchase price. If you prohibit your conveyancer to notify the price change to Barclays then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, Barclays and you would have to appoint a new conveyancer for your conveyancing in Kettering.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in last month in what was supposed to be a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Kettering is where the house is located. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Kettering are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Kettering you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Kettering may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

I was recommended by a number of property agents in Kettering to locate a solicitor using your seach tool. What’s the financial incentive for Estate Agents to recommend your services ahead of another?

We refuse to give any financial incentive for directing people in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission because a client could think, ‘Why is 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 grandmother I am disposing of a house in Newport but live in Kettering. My solicitor (based 260 kilometers awayrequires that I execute a stat dec prior to the transaction finalising. Can you recommend a conveyancing lawyer in Kettering who can witness and place their company stamp on the document?

Technically speaking you should not be required to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or qualified solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are located in Kettering

I have just appointed agents to market my 2 bed apartment in Kettering. Conveyancing is yet to be initiated, however I have just had a quarterly service charge invoice – Do I pay up?

It best that you discharge the maintenance contribution as normal because all rents and maintenance charges should be allotted on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I invested in buying a 1 bedroom flat in Kettering, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Equivalent flats in Kettering with over 90 years remaining are worth £195,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 yearly. The lease runs out on 21st October 2090

You have 64 years unexpired we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £14,300 and £16,400 plus costs.

The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to supply a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive investigations. Do not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.