My previous solicitor has given a fee calculation of £1400 for no sale no fee conveyancing in Hove. I’m hoping to downsize from a Victorian property for £275,000. Is this overpriced? Is it in excess of the average fee for conveyancing in Hove?

The estimate does seem a tad overpriced. If you shop around you might get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by say a hundred pounds. That being said, you mightlive to regret choosing an an unknown conveyancer. Don't forget to ensure that the firm can represent your mortgage company. You can make use of our search tool to choose a Hove conveyancing company on the banks conveyancing panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Hove.

Me and my partner are purchasing a house in Hove. It might be a silly question but how we can trust a conveyancer? On completion day we have to put money into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our monies?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

Can I be sure that the Hove conveyancing solicitor on the Leeds Building Society panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Hove obtaining recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one advertising the lowest fees. We would always advocate that you speak with the solicitor handling your transaction.

I have instructed a Hove conveyancer having checked that they are on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?

Co-operative will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Co-operative will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own Hove surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.

I used Stirling Law a few years ago for my conveyancing in Hove. I now require my papers however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down 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 Hove of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

About to purchase a new build flat in Hove. 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 legal work.

Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Hove

Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. 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. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared.

We're novice buyers - agreed a price, yet the agent told us that the vendor will only issue a contract if we use the agent's preferred lawyers as they need a ‘quick sale’. Our preferred option is to instruct a high street solicitor with experience of conveyancing in Hove

We suspect that the seller is not behind this demand. If they desire ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a motivated buyer is not the way to achieve this. Try to communicate with the owners directly and make the point that (a)you are serious purchasers (b)you are excited to move forward, with mortgage lined up © you are chain free (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you are going to appoint your own,trusted Hove conveyancing firm - rather thanthe ones that will earn their estate agent a commission or meet his conveyancing targets set by head office.