My wife and I changing mortgage lender for our flat in Sidcup with Kent Reliance. We have a son approaching twenty who lives at home. Our solicitor has asked us to disclose anyone over the age of 17 other than ourselves who reside at the property. The solicitor has now sent a form for our son to sign, giving up any rights in the event that the apartment is repossessed. I have a couple of concerns (1) Is this form unique to the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel as he never had to sign this form when we bought 5 years ago (2) In signing this form is our son in any way compromising his right to inherit the property?

On the face of it your lawyer has done nothing wrong as it is established procedure for any occupier who is aged 17 or over to sign the necessary Consent Form, which is purely to state that any rights he has in the property are postponed and secondary to Kent Reliance. This is solely used to protect Kent Reliance if the property were re-possessed so that in such circumstances, your son would be legally obliged to leave. It does not impact your son’s right to inherit the apartment. Please note that if your son were to inherit and the mortgage in favour of Kent Reliance had not been discharged, he would be liable to take over the loan or pay it off, but other than that, there is nothing stopping him from keeping the property in accordance with your will or the rules of intestacy.

Can I be sure that the Sidcup conveyancing solicitor on the RBS panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Sidcup seeking 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 suggest that you speak with the solicitor carrying out your conveyancing.

We have a mortgage agreed in principle with Aldermore. Sidcup conveyancing lawyers are selected. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Aldermore?

There is no definitive answer here. Have Aldermore done the survey? Have you advised Aldermore as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Aldermore conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.

Having digested plenty of house buying guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Sidcup solicitor - who is on the UBS conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?

UBS will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually UBS 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. Your conveyancing practitioner will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Sidcup postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with UBS, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Sidcup.

I require quick conveyancing in Sidcup as I am faced with pressure to sign on the dotted line in less than 3 weeks. Thankfully I do not require a mortgage. Can I avoid the conveyancing searches to save money and time?

If.Given you are not obtaining a mortgage you have the choice not to do searches although no lawyer would advise that you don't. Drawing on years of experience of conveyancing in Sidcup the following are examples of issues that can appear and therefore impact future mortgageability: Enforcement Actions, Outstanding Fees, Overdue Grants, Road Schemes,...

I am buying a new build apartment in Sidcup. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Set out below is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Sidcup

Please supply a car parking plan. Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants.

Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Sidcup in advance of appointing solicitors. I have been told that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. The surveyor advised that some banks may not issue a mortgage on this type of home.

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