After researching online forums for a high-quality lawyer in Tokyngton, many advise that I must look for a CQS kitemarked lawyer. Can you explain what CQS is?

The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme is the recognised kitemark for legal experts in the legal transfer of properties, trusted by some of the UK's leading banks. In 2011-12 the Conveyancing Quality Scheme was officially recognised by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The scheme does not cover licenced conveyancers. Tokyngton is one of the numerous areas of the UK where there are Accredited solicitors.

I have been recommended by three or four local estate agents in Tokyngton to get a quote from a solicitor using your seach tool. What’s the financial incentive for Estate Agents to recommend your lawyers rather than alternative conveyancing organisations?

We refuse to give any commission for sending work in our direction. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission because members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

I am looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Tokyngton for my sale. Can I check a solicitor's complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

Members of the public may read documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions resulting from investigations started on or after Jan 2008. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find records about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's history, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For callers outside the UK, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator could recorded telephone calls for training reasons.

I have just started marketing my garden flat in Tokyngton. Conveyancing is yet to be initiated, however I have recently had a yearly maintenance charge demand – what should I do?

It best that you clear the invoice as you normally would as all rents and service payments should be allotted on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer unless 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. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

I inherited a ground-floor 1960’s flat in Tokyngton. Given that I can not reach agreement with the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the amount payable for a lease extension?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Tokyngton conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Tokyngton property is Ground Floor Flat 79 London Road in September 2012. the Tribunal held that the premium payable for the lease extension should be £7,636 This case related to 1 flat. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 74 years.

We are in the middle of buying a house in Tokyngton. Conveyancing lawyer has called to say the property is "Leasehold". Should this adversely affect the marketability of the property?

Tokyngton conveyancing does not in most situations involve leasehold houses. The key factor here is the length of lease and the ground rent. If there are over a hundred years remaining with a nominal rent, it's virtually freehold, so it shouldn't impact the value significantly.

At the other extreme, if it's, say, fifty five years it will have a material effect on the value, and probably wouldn't be mortgageable. The length of lease and ground rent will be specified in the lease provided to your property lawyer.