Do I have to visit the offices of the solicitor to execute the mortgage deed? If so, I will instruct a firm who offer conveyancing in Gillingham so that I can pop in to their offices if required.

As opposed to twenty years ago, most lenders no longer need their conveyancing panel lawyer to witness the mortgagors signature. It will still be necessary for you to supply identification documents and there are still manifest advantages to choosing a locally based solicitor, in your situation a conveyancing solicitor in Gillingham.

A friend informed me that in purchasing a property in Gillingham there could be various restrictions prohibiting external changes to the property. Is this right?

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

Is it the case that all Gillingham CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the Skipton conveyancing list of approved practices?

It is true that some lenders now make use of CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to remain on their approved list of firms.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Gillingham off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Virgin Money. 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 Virgin Money, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel.

My friend advised me that if I am purchasing in Gillingham I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?

This is a search is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Gillingham conveyancing searches. It is a large report of more than thirty pages, listing and detailing important information about Gillingham around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Gillingham Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Gillingham Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data concerning Gillingham.

What does commercial conveyancing in Gillingham cover?

Gillingham conveyancing for business premises covers a broad range of guidance, provided by regulated solicitors, relating to business premises. By way of example, this area of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more usually, the assignment of existing leases or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial mortgages and the termination of tenancies.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to appointing a Gillingham conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Gillingham conveyancing firm) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you make enquires with several firms including non Gillingham conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions might be helpful:

How familiar is the firm with lease extension legislation? What volume of lease extensions has the firm carried out in Gillingham in the last twenty four months?

I am the registered owner of a leasehold flat in Gillingham, conveyancing having been completed half a dozen years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Equivalent flats in Gillingham with a long lease are worth £202,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £60 levied per year. The lease ends on 21st October 2082

With 57 years left to run the likely cost is going to span between £28,500 and £33,000 as well as costs.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be other concerns that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.