I have given 2 months notice to my existing landlord and must be out of my let out flat in West Croydon by the end of next month. Conveyancing for my house purchase has just started. Can I complete in three weeks as I wish to avoid having to find short term accommodation?

It is unwise to give notice on a rental until you have exchanged. If you have not previously done so, update to your lawyer and ask them to they seek the assistance the sellers side, try to get a realistic time scale from them that all parties will work towards

Please explain the implications if my lawyer’s firm is expelled from the Skipton Conveyancing panel ahead of completing my conveyancing in West Croydon?

First, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have to instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by a regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.

I used Wolstenholmes a few years past for my conveyancing in West Croydon. Now, I need the documents however the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?

Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing 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 West Croydon of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one close by in West Croydon I like with open areas and transport links in the vicinity, however it only has 49 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in West Croydon suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?

Should you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for at least 2 years you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer regarding this.

My brother-in-law has suggested I instruct a conveyancing solicitor in West Croydon. I need to find out if they are on the lender's conveyancing panel. Could you assist?

You should phone the conveyancer to check if they are on the lender's panel. If that does not help call us and we can investigate and revert. If they are not on the lender panel we can certainly arrange a reputable conveyancing solicitor in West Croydon on the panel for your mortgage company.