Me and my partner are acquiring a leasehold flat in Sutton on Trent. My Solicitor is not on the bank conveyancing panel. Is it possible for me to retain my Sutton on Trent conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the lender panel?

You will need to instruct a conveyancer to deal with the formalities if you need a mortgage to buy your property. The lawyer will carry out all the relevant legal checks on the property, make sure that you will be registered as proprietor and ensure that all the necessary mortgage paperwork is in order. One can select a Sutton on Trent conveyancing practitioner of your choosing. Nevertheless, where the solicitor appointed is not a member of the bank approved list supplemental fees will be levied as separate legal representation will be required by them. Conveyancing panel applications can be submitted, so where your solicitor has not historically applied for membership they can do so.

The owners of the property we are looking to purchase are using a conveyancing firm in Sutton on Trent who has suggested a lock out agreement with a payment of 5k. Is it wise to enter into such agreements?

There are two main downsides with entering into any lock out contract (occasionally termed an exclusivity agreement) is that it takes away the focus from making progress with the conveyancing work, so in the absence of it needing minimal or no negotiation then it may transpire to be unhelpful. It is not promoted by Sutton on Trent conveyancing practitioners as a result. A supplemental negative is the extent of the remedies available - an aggrieved purchaser is not likely to obtain an injunction to stop the owner completing the sale to a third party, so the only remedy open via the agreement will be the recovery of wasted charges and, in limited circumstances, the additional payment of damages.

As someone not used to the Sutton on Trent conveyancing process what’s your top tip you can impart for the ownership transfer in Sutton on Trent

Not many law firms or advisers will tell you this but conveyancing in Sutton on Trent or throughout Nottinghamshire is an adversarial process. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there exists lots of room for conflict between you and others involved in the ownership transfer. E.g., the vendor, estate agent and on occasion the mortgage company. Appointing a lawyer for your conveyancing in Sutton on Trent should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONLY party in the process whose responsibility is to protect your best interests and to protect you.

We are witnessing a worrying ongoing adversarial element to conveyancing- someone has to be at fault for the process being so protracted. We recommend that you your first instinct should be to trust your conveyancer above the other players when it comes to the legal transfer of property.

What is your number one tip for choosing a conveyancing solicitor in Sutton on Trent

It would be unwise to be swayed by the lowest Sutton on Trent conveyancing costs illustration. You really do get what you’re paying for when it comes to property lawyers. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you go into the conveyancing with your eyes wide open.

We had selected conveyancers located in Sutton on Trent on the Leeds Building Society solicitor approved list. They are now charging me a separate charge for the legal aspects of the Leeds Building Society mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Leeds Building Society?

As unfair as it may seem, as long as it’s in their Terms of Engagement or Quote then yes your solicitor may charge a fee for this. This charge is not set by Leeds Building Society but by your Sutton on Trent conveyancer. Plenty of firms on the Leeds Building Society panel will levy an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Sutton on Trent. I have a mortgage offer with Barclays. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have 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 Barclays, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Barclays conveyancing panel.

I am looking for a conveyancing lawyer in Sutton on Trent for my home move. Is it possible to see a solicitor's record with the profession’s regulator?

You may find presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions arising from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. International callers, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator could monitor telephone calls for training reasons.