I am purchasing a semi-detached house in Forest Gate. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Forest Gate you will have to appoint a solicitor on your lender'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 Forest Gate.

I decided to have a survey completed on a house in Forest Gate ahead of instructing solicitors. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold element to the property. My surveyor has said that some lenders will refuse to issue a loan on this type of home.

It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different requirements for example to Birmingham Midshires. If you e-mail us we can check via the appropriate bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Forest Gate. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Forest Gate especially if they regularly deal with such properties in Forest Gate.

Given that I will soon part with over three hundred thousand on a house in Forest Gate I would like to have a conversation with the solicitor concerning thehome move before giving the go ahead to the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?

This is something that we encourage - we would be pleased to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the solicitor due to be carrying out your conveyancing in Forest Gate.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is an important individual, not a matter number. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are provided with for residential conveyancing in Forest Gate should be the amount on the final invoice that you are charged.

I am intending to rent out my leasehold apartment in Forest Gate. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask him. Do I need to ask my freeholder for their consent?

A small minority of properties in Forest Gate do contain a provision to say that subletting is only allowed with permission. The landlord cannot unreasonably withhold but, in such cases, they would need to see references. Experience suggests that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting permission.

I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord for a lease extension without any joy. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on such matters? Can you recommend a Forest Gate conveyancing firm to represent me?

Absolutely. We are happy to put you in touch with a Forest Gate conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Forest Gate property is 52 & 54 Green Street in February 2010. Following a vesting order by the County Court the Tribunal decided that the price that the Applicant for the freehold interest should pay is £20,543 This case affected 2 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 78 and 80.

My husband and I are buying a first floor flat in Forest Gate. At the time of instructing our solicitor, they assured us that they were on all mainstream mortgage company panels. Our financial adviser contacted us just now to advise that they are not on the Yorkshire BS approved list. If it turns out to be true, what should we do? Should we simply pick a new lawyer that is on their approved list or should we pay for dual representation, with Yorkshire BS selecting their own preferred conveyancer.

When purchasing a property with the benefit of a mortgage it is usual for the buyer’s solicitors to also act for the purchaser's lender. In order to act for a bank or building society a conveyancer has to be on that lender's list of approved lawyers. An application has to be made by the conveyancing practitioner to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the conveyancer has to meet. Some building societies now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your property lawyer should contact Yorkshire BS and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own solicitors to act. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on Yorkshire BS's conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred Forest Gate lawyers, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you are adding another conveyancing practitioner into the equation.