I am buying a right to buy a flat in Street. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Street you will have to appoint a solicitor on your bank's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Street.

I'm the only beneficiary of my late grandmother’s estate with all property in now in my sole name, including the my former home in Street. The Street property was put into my name in January. I want to move. I understand that there is a CML 6 month 'rule', meaning my proprietorship will be considered the same way as if I'd bought the property in January. Will no one buy the property for half a year?

The CML handbook obliges solicitors to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." Technically you might be caught by that. many mortgage companies would take a sensible view as this clause chiefly exists to pick up on the purchase and immediately sell or the quick reselling of property.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Street off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Kent Reliance. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Kent Reliance, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel.

I am due to exchange contracts on my flat. I had a double glazing fitted in August 2008, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s lender, RBS are being difficult. The Street solicitor who is on the RBS conveyancing panel is saying indemnity insurance will be fine but RBS are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do RBS have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?

It is probably the case that RBS have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why RBS may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.

I am looking for a flat up to £195,000 and found one close by in Street I like with open areas and transport links nearby, the downside is that it only has 61 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Street suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

If you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease will be an issue. Reduce the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you can request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

Am I right to be concerned about third parties that I am dealing with are recommending a national conveyancing firm rather than a local Street conveyancing firm?

As is the case with lots of service providers, often referrals from family and friends can be extremely useful or valuable. Yet there are many players in a conveyancing deal; estate agents, mortgage brokers and mortgage companies may suggest conveyancers to instruct. Sometimes the solicitors might be known to one of the organisations as being good in their field, but occasionally there is an underlying commercial relationship behind the endorsement. You are at liberty to appoint your own lawyer. You need to be aware that many mortgage providers specify a panel list of lawyers you must use for the lender related work in your conveyancing.

Is there a distinction between surveying and conveyancing in Street?

Conveyancing - in Street or anywhere in England and Wales - is the legal term given to transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It involves the checking of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you are purchasing and will help you find out about the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you leverage for negotiating the buying price down or asking the seller to remedy the problems before you complete your move.