We see that you have a search directory listing firms on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I appoint them for our own conveyancing in Southsea?

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

When looking at mumsnet.com for a high-quality lawyer in Southsea, most comment that I should instruct a CQS kitemarked lawyer. Can you explain what CQS is?

The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme is the recognised quality mark for legal experts in home ownership transfers, trusted by some of the UK's major banks. Four years ago the Conveyancing Quality Scheme was officially recognised by the Building Societies Association (BSA). The scheme does not cover licenced conveyancers. Southsea is one of the numerous areas of the UK where there are Accredited solicitors.

I got the keys to my apartment on 1 September and my personal details is yet to be registered. Any reason for this? My conveyancing solicitor in Southsea advises it should be concluded in a couple of weeks. Are properties in Southsea particularly slow to register?

As far as conveyancing in Southsea registration is no faster or slower than anywhere else in England and Wales. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timescales can differ depending on who lodges the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry communicate with any other parties. Currently approximately three quarters of submission are fully dealt with within two weeks but some can be subject to protracted delays. Historically registration occurs once the purchaser has moved in to the premises so 'speed' is not typically an essential issue yet if it is urgent that the the registration takes place urgently then you or your solicitor could speak with the land registry and explain the circumstances.

We are one month into a freehold purchase having been recommend to a firm by the high street agent to perform conveyancing in Southsea. I am am very dissatisfied with the level of service. Could you you assist me in finding new conveyancers?

A conveyancer would have to be really poor in order to consider diss instructing them. Has your mortgage offer been sent? In the event that it has you need to inform them of the replacement lawyer and have the offer are re-issued. Your conveyancer needs to be on the lenders approved list to avoid added charges and complications. So that should be your first question of the new lawyers. The find a solicitor tool will assist you in finding a bank approved solicitor for your home move in Southsea

All being well we will complete the sale of our £400,000 maisonette in Southsea in just under a week. The management company has quoted £336 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and 3 years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge such fees for a flat conveyance in Southsea?

Southsea conveyancing on leasehold apartments ordinarily results in administration charges invoiced by freeholders :

Completing conveyancing due diligence enquiries Where consent is required before sale in Southsea Copies of the building insurance and schedule Deeds of covenant upon sale Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your lawyer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Southsea leasehold property is £350. For Southsea conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are required to supply the information.

I purchased a studio flat in Southsea, conveyancing formalities finalised half a dozen years ago. Can you let me have an estimate of the premium that my landlord can legally expect in return for granting a renewal of my lease? Comparable flats in Southsea with an extended lease are worth £171,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 levied per year. The lease expires on 21st October 2104

You have 79 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £8,600 and £9,800 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs without more detailed investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be other issues that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.