My partner and I are acquiring a maisonette in Alfriston. My Solicitor is not listed on the lender approved panel. Am I still permitted to retain my Alfriston conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are excluded from the lender panel?

Various options include

• Proceed with your preferred Alfriston property lawyer but your lender will undoubtedly use a conveyancer on their approved panel. This will result in additional charges and probable frustration.
• Choose a new property lawyer to act in the purchase, making sure they are on the bank conveyancing panel.
• Convince your solicitor to apply to join the mortgage company panel

Would the conveyancing practitioners identified via your search tool execute auction conveyancing in Alfriston?

We know of a few niche solicitors we can put you in touch with those who can conduct auction conveyancing. Alfriston is one of our locations in which our lawyers have a presence.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in last month in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Alfriston is where the house is located. Is there any advice you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Alfriston are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Alfriston you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Alfriston may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

We're new to the buying process - agreed a price, yet the estate agent informed us that the seller will only proceed if we appoint the agent's recommended solicitors as they need a ‘quick sale’. We would rather use a local solicitor used to conveyancing in Alfriston

We suspect that the owner is not behind this ultimatum. If they want ‘a quick sale', alienating a motivated buyer is counter productive. Bypass the agents and go straight to the owners and explain that (a)you are motivated purchasers (b)you are ready to go, with finances arranged © you have nothing to sell (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)but you will continue to instruct your own,trusted Alfriston conveyancing solicitors - as opposed tothe ones that will earn their estate agent a commission or hit his conveyancing figures set by corporate headquarters.

Last September I purchased a leasehold flat in Alfriston. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before my ownership?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

I inherited a basement flat in Alfriston, conveyancing having been completed in 2008. 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? Corresponding properties in Alfriston with an extended lease are worth £222,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 per annum. The lease terminates on 21st October 2095

With 70 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to span between £9,500 and £11,000 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide a more accurate figure without more comprehensive due diligence. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward based on this information before getting professional advice.