I can't travel far from South Ockendon. Can you please explain the reason why all South Ockendon lawyers aren't included on all bank panels?

Mortgage companies highlight the fact that solicitor-led fraud is thought to be responsible for millions of pounds of fraud annually.The dismissal of law firms from lender panels started with the rise in mortgage fraud, which prompted a thematic review by the FSA in 2011. Its conclusions included recommendations for mortgage companies to review their conveyancing panels, which kicked off a major policy change in the sector. This resulted in mortgage companies purging a number of firms from their books of approved solicitors .

In reviewing online forums for a high-quality solicitor in South Ockendon, most comment that I should use a CQS kitemarked lawyer. What is CQS?

The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme is the recognised quality mark for legal experts in the legal transfer of properties, trusted by some of the UK's major mortgage companies. In 2011-12 the Conveyancing Quality Scheme was officially recognised by the Building Societies Association (BSA). CQS is not a scheme offered by the Council of Licensed Conveyancing. South Ockendon is one of the numerous areas of the UK where there are CQS lawyers.

Am I right to be wary about brokers that I am dealing with are encouraging me to use an internet conveyancing firm rather than a local South Ockendon conveyancing practice?

As is the case with many professional services, often recommendations from relatives can be worth their weight in gold. Nevertheless there are lots of players in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and mortgage companies may put forward solicitors to select. On occasion these conveyancers might be known to one of the organisations as experts in their field, but sometimes there is an underlying financial incentive behind the recommendation. You have the right to choose your preferred lawyer. You need to be aware that the majority of mortgage providers have an approved list of solicitors you have to use for the lender aspect of your house move.

If all goes to plan we aim to complete our sale of a £250,000 maisonette in South Ockendon in just under a week. The managing agents has quoted £408 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and previous years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a flat conveyance in South Ockendon?

South Ockendon conveyancing on leasehold flats more often than not necessitates the purchaser’s conveyancer sending enquiries for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to respond to such questions the majority will be content to do so. They are at liberty to levy a reasonable administration fee for answering enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the information that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some situations it exceeds £800. The administration charge invoiced by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of rights and obligations in relation to administration fees, without which the invoice is technically not due. Reality however dictates that you have no choice but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to complete the sale of your home.

Following years of negotiations we cannot agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in South Ockendon. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?

in cases where there is a absentee freeholder or if there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant legislation it is possible to make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to calculate the premium.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a South Ockendon premises is 37 Lodge Court High Street in November 2013. the decision of the LVT was that the premium to be paid for the new lease was £25,559 This case affected 1 flat. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 57.5 years.

I see that you have a post code search directory listing law firms on the bank conveyancing panel. Do South Ockendon conveyancing firms pay you a referral fee if I retain them for my own house purchase?

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