Our family lawyer has given a fee estimate just over a thousand pound for freehold conveyancing in Sydenham. I’m selling a modern detached home for £225,000. This seems over the top. Is it above what I should be paying for conveyancing in Sydenham?

The estimate does seem a tad overpriced. If you shop around you might reduce the fees marginally by say £100 plus VAT. On the other hand, you maycome to regret choosing an an untested conveyancer. Don't forget to check that the conveyancer can act for your lender. You can make use of our search tool to find a Sydenham conveyancing company on the banks member panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Sydenham.

We are acquiring our first property. Our conveyancer has contact usto see if we would like to purchase extra conveyancing searches. As novices we in the dark as to what's appropriate for conveyancing in Sydenham

The range of Sydenham conveyancing searches should be dictated entirely on the property, the location, the likelihood of any of these risks, your knowledge of the area and risks, your general appetite to risk. What is important is that you properly appreciate what information each search could provide. You may then make a decision if you personally think you need that search. Should you be unclear, ask your lawyer to guide you.

Forgive me if this question is silly but I am wet behind the ears as a first time purchaser of a garden flat in Sydenham. Do I receive the keys to the property on the completion date from my conveyancer? If this is the case, I will use a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Sydenham?

On the day of completion you will not be required to attend the conveyancers office in Sydenham. Your solicitors will transfer the completion advance to the vendor’s lawyers, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you should be called to receive the keys from the Estate Agents and start moving into the property. Usually this occurs between 1 and 3pm.

My aunt advised me that in buying a property in Sydenham there could be various restrictions preventing external changes to the property. Is this right?

We are aware of a number of properties in Sydenham which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to perform external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Sydenham should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

I have paid off my mortgage with HSBC. I assume I don't need a Sydenham conveyancing practitioner on the HSBC panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.

If you have finished paying off your HSBC mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the HSBC mortgage from the register. HSBC, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:

1. but are not moving to another property
2. where HSBC has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. HSBC has instructed the Land Registry to do so

I purchased a 4 bedroom Georgian property in Sydenham. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Leeds Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are two entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same property. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Sydenham and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also check the situation with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the work.

In sourcing the internet for the phrase conveyancing in Sydenham it brings up numerous conveyancersin the vicinity. How do I determine which is the suitable conveyancer for the sale of my house?

The best way of seeking the right conveyancer is via personal recommendation, so ask friends and relatives who have purchased a property in Sydenham or the local estate agent or mortgage broker. Charges for conveyancing in Sydenham vary, so it's a good idea to secure at least four costs illustrations from different conveyancers. Be sure to secure confirmation that the charges are guaranteed not to rise.