We note that you have a post code search directory identifying solicitors on the Lloyds conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for our conveyancing in Rochester?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Lloyds conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Rochester.

I'm buying a new build house in Rochester with the aid of help to buy. The builders refused to move on the amount so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The estate agent suggested that I not to tell my lawyer about the extras as it may adversely affect my mortgage with the lender. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I decided to have a survey completed on a house in Rochester ahead of retaining lawyers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. The surveyor advised that some mortgage companies tend refuse to give a loan on such a house.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Nationwide. Should you wish to telephone us we can look into this further with the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Rochester. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Rochester especially if they are acquainted with such properties in Rochester.

Given that I am about to spend £400,000 on a terraced house in Rochester I wish to talk to a solicitor concerning thetransaction in advance of giving the go ahead to the firm. Can this be arranged?

We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you liaising with the solicitor due to be doing your property ownership legalities in Rochester.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique person, not a case reference. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are provided with for residential conveyancing in Rochester should be the figure that you are charged.

Frank (my husband) and I may need to rent out our Rochester garden flat temporarily due to a career opportunity. We instructed a Rochester conveyancing practice in 2004 but they have since shut and we did not have the foresight to get any advice as to whether the lease permits subletting. How do we find out?

Notwithstanding that your previous Rochester conveyancing solicitor is not around you can check your lease to see if you are permitted to let out the property. The accepted inference is that if the lease is non-specific, subletting is allowed. There may be a precondition that you must obtain consent via your landlord or some other party prior to subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet without prior permission. Such consent must not not be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If your lease prohibits you from subletting the property you should ask your landlord if they are willing to waive this restriction.

I am the registered owner of a 2 bed flat in Rochester, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Corresponding flats in Rochester with a long lease are worth £186,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £55 per annum. The lease terminates on 21st October 2078

With just 53 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £27,600 and £31,800 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs without more comprehensive investigations. You should not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.