Me and my partner are acquiring a maisonette in Sydenham Hill. My property lawyer is not listed on the lender solicitor panel. Am I still permitted to retain my Sydenham Hill conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the mortgage company panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?

Various options include

• Carry on with your preferred Sydenham Hill conveyancer but your bank will need to use a solicitor from their conveyancing panel. The net result is additional charges and probable interruption.
• Choose a fresh solicitor to conduct the conveyancing, ensuring that they are on the mortgage company conveyancing panel.
• Appeal to your lawyer to seek to join the lender panel

I am buying a right to buy a flat in Sydenham Hill. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Sydenham Hill 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 Sydenham Hill.

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and found one round the corner in Sydenham Hill I like with amenity areas and station nearby, however it only has 51 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Sydenham Hill suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you require a mortgage that many years may be an issue. Reduce the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.

I am looking for a conveyancing practitioner in Sydenham Hill for my house move. Can I review a firm’s complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

One may see presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions stemming from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For records Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, ring 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. International callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator may monitor call for training requirements.

We are contemplating choosing an online solicitor as opposed to a Sydenham Hill conveyancing practice. Any advice?

There are advantages of having the option pop in to a local Sydenham Hill conveyancing solicitor such as

• signing documents and and when necessary
• sometimes being able to see someone face-to-face can make a significant difference, particularly for non-standard transactions
• the ability to raise concerns if matters need to addressed

When checking estimates, look out for hidden extras. The majority decent Sydenham Hill high street solicitors give an all-inclusive figure. Often online agents appear to offer cheap prices, yet have hidden 'extras' in the fine print.