We had chosen conveyancing lawyers located in Northallerton on the Clydesdale solicitor panel. They are now charging me a supplemental fee for dealing with the Clydesdale mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by Clydesdale?

As unfair as it may seem, as long as it’s in their Terms of Engagement or estimate then yes your lawyer can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Clydesdale but by your Northallerton property lawyer. Plenty of firms on the Clydesdale panel will levy an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Northallerton off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Nottingham. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Nottingham, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Nottingham conveyancing panel.

I have instructed a Northallerton property lawyer having checked that they are on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?

Kent Reliance will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Kent Reliance will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own Northallerton surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.

Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Northallerton before appointing solicitors. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. Our surveyor has said that some lenders tend refuse to issue a mortgage on such a home.

It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different instructions from Nationwide. If you call us we can check via the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Northallerton. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Northallerton to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.

I am a sole trader intending to lease a unit on a shopping parade. Can you recommend lawyers offering competitive costs for commercial conveyancing in Northallerton for below 1500k?

We are happy to recommend firms who have an in-depth of experience of commercial conveyancing in Northallerton, including the sale and acquisition of businesses as well as simply property. If you are hoping to purchase or dispose of a shop, pub, restaurant, office, retail premises or a complete business we can find you the right solicitor. As for the fees these will vary based on the structure and terms of the deal. Please provide us with your details or telephone us so that we may supply you with a fixed commercial conveyancing quote.

I have been sourcing a conveyancing practitioner in Northallerton for my sale. Is it possible to review a firm’s complaints history with the legal regulator?

Anyone may review presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions resulting from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For details Pre 2008, or to check a solicitors history, ring 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. International callers, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA sometimes monitor call for training purposes.

How up-to-date is your database of lawyers on the lender conveyancing panel in Northallerton? Do the mortgage companies send you an updated list?

Northallerton law firm practices and firms conducting conveyancing in Northallerton themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the bank conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from the mortgage company directly.