My lender has suggested solicitors on their panel based in Leatherhead but I would rather use a conveyancing lawyer in Leatherhead round the corner to me. Are you able to help?

Not all Leatherhead conveyancing practitioners are on all lender’s conveyancing panel. Do make use of our find an approved solicitor tool to identify a Leatherhead conveyancing solicitor on the on the bank panel.

We are getting the release of further funds on our mortgage from RBS as we want to conduct alterations to our property in Leatherhead. Are we obliged to appoint a local Leatherhead solicitor on the RBS conveyancing panel to handle the legals?

RBS would not normally instruct firms on their approved list of lawyers to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the RBS list.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Leatherhead off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Coventry BS. Conveyancing is new to me. 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 Coventry BS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel.

Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Leatherhead. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?

Almost all banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Team at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are resolved effectively and efficiently. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.

Various web forums that I have come across warn that are the main reason for hinderance in Leatherhead conveyancing transactions. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the findings of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the top 10 causes of hindrances during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are unlikely to feature in any slowing down conveyancing in Leatherhead.

I am purchasing a new build house in Leatherhead with a mortgage from Leeds Building Society. The developers refused to move on the price so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not reveal to my lawyer about the deal as it will adversely affect my loan with Leeds Building Society. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my garden flat in Leatherhead. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed, but I have recently received a quarterly maintenance charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should clear the maintenance contribution as normal given that all rents and maintenance charges should be allotted as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you will be reimbursed by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I purchased a studio flat in Leatherhead, conveyancing was carried out 9 years ago. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Similar properties in Leatherhead with an extended lease are worth £216,000. The ground rent is £50 charged once a year. The lease terminates on 21st October 2093

You have 69 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 as well as legals.

The figure above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to supply the actual costs in the absence of detailed investigations. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.