The Sneyd Park conveyancing solicitors that just started acting on my house acquisition in Sneyd Park have suddenly shut down. I chose them because I had to have a lawyer on the UBS conveyancing panel and my preferred Sneyd Park lawyer was not. I paid them 275 plus VAT in advance. What are my options?

Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then let them know immediately so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the UBS conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors should be in a position to assist.

We are buying a property in Sneyd Park. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a conveyancer? At some point we have to deposit our life savings into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our monies?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

The formalities of my purchase has taken place for my property in Sneyd Park. Conveyancing was a necessary evil but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. How does one go about formally complaining?

Almost all lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Team at head office. We understand that complaints to a lender are resolved effectively and efficiently. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.

It is unclear whether my bank requires a lease extension. I have telephoned my Sneyd Park building society branch on a couple of occasions and was advised it wasn't an issue and they would lend. My Sneyd Park conveyancing solicitor - who is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel- telephoned to say that they refuse to lend in accordance with their specific requirements. I have no idea who is right.

Your property lawyer has to comply with the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook Part 2 requirements for your bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

I have recentlydiscovered that Wolstenholmes have closed. They carried out my conveyancing in Sneyd Park for a purchase of a freehold house 18 months ago. How can I be sure that my home is in my name in the name of the former proprietor?

The easiest method to check if the property is registered to you, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Sneyd Park conveyancing specialists.

Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Sneyd Park in advance of appointing solicitors. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. Our surveyor advised that some mortgage companies tend not grant a mortgage on this type of premises.

It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different requirements from Halifax. If you e-mail us we can investigate further via the appropriate mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Sneyd Park. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

My conveyancing in Sneyd Park completes this Friday, yet the vendors I am buying from wants to vacate on the Saturday at 2pm. Can I agree to such a idea?

If you require a bank loan then your solicitor will require that you have vacant possession on Friday - the mortgage company will require it.