We had appointed conveyancers located in Lewes on the HSBC solicitor approved list. They have just invoiced me a further sum for the legal aspects of the HSBC mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by HSBC?

Provided it is contained in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your property lawyer may charge a fee for this. This fee is not dictated by HSBC but by your Lewes solicitor. Numerous firms on the HSBC panel will quote an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.

How can we know in advance if a Lewes conveyancing solicitor on the Principality panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Lewes getting recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advocate that you speak with the lawyer handling your transaction.

Planning on purchasing a apartment in Lewes. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Lewes conveyancer is on the Aldermore conveyancing panel.

I require fast conveyancing in Lewes as I am under a deadline to exchange contracts inside one month. A home loan is not required. Can I escape the need for conveyancing searches to save fees and time?

As you are are a mortgage free purchaser you are at free not to have searches conducted although no conveyancer would recommend that you don't. Drawing on our experience of conveyancing in Lewes the following are instances of what can be revealed and adversely impact future saleability: Enforcement Actions, Outstanding Charges, Outstanding Grants, Railway Schemes,...

I used Wolstenholmes several years ago for my conveyancing in Lewes. Now, I need the documents however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

Do contact 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 Lewes 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 apartment in Lewes. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Lewes

Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease.

I need to change lawyers as my Lewes lawyer is not on the lender's panel of conveyancing solicitors. Is it practical to instruct different lawyers?

In the event that you have not formally instructed a conveyancer to start work and at this stage simply received an estimate as to costs, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer in Lewes that you're considering.