I was referred a conveyancer who has sent a quote for £1400 for leasehold conveyancing in Fawley. I’m hoping to downsize from a modern property for £200,000. Is this too much? Is it in excess of what I should be paying for conveyancing in Fawley?

The costs illustration is slightly on the expensive side. If you shop around you might get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by perhaps £125. That being said, you maylive to regret choosing an an untested conveyancer. Don't forget to ensure that the conveyancer can also act for your lender. You can employ our comparison tool to select a Fawley conveyancing practice on the banks conveyancing panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Fawley.

In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Fawley? Is this really warranted?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering regulations require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the ID of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing retainer. The Client Care letter that you need to sign will no doubt stipulate this. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the CML Lenders Handbook requirements last updated on 1st December 2014. If you refuse to hand over identification documents, your lawyer will not be able to take you on as a client.

I used Arc property Solicitors a few years ago for my conveyancing in Fawley. I now require my papers however cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Fawley of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I am buying a new build apartment in Fawley. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.

Set out below is a sample of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Fawley

The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Please supply a car parking plan.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and identified one round the corner in Fawley I like with amenity areas and transport links in the vicinity, however it's only got 52 years on the lease. There is not much else in Fawley for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

If you require a mortgage that many years will likely be an issue. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for at least 2 years you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this.