I can't travel far from Chalk Farm. What is the rationale as to why all Chalk Farm conveyancing practitioners are not on all mortgage company panels?

A decade ago most banks had an attitude to risk which is different from today. The Financial Services Authority in 2010 instigated a thematic review into mortgage fraud which concluded: know the property lawyers on your panel. Consequently, banks have subsequently looked to extract more information from law firms concerning their processes and the staff employed by them and set certain criteria such as completing a minimum volume of transactions. Thousands of law practices have found themselves excluded from lender panels even though they had an exemplary track record, no complaints and no claims and didn't just 'dabble' in conveyancing. Many firms found it impossible meet the minimum amount of transactions the mortgage companies insisted on.

I have given 2 months notice to my current landlord and have to be out of my let out property in Chalk Farm by the end of next month. Conveyancing for my house purchase is progressing. Can I complete in a couple of weeks as I wish to avoid having to find temporary accommodation?

It is unwise to provide notice for your letting until you have exchanged. If you have not previously done so, update to your conveyancer and urge them to they apply pressure on the sellers side, try to an acceptable time-line that all parties will work towards

I happen to be the only recipient of my late grandmother’s will and I have everything in my name now, including the house in Chalk Farm. Conveyancing formalities meant that the Land Registry date was in December. I plan to dispose of the house. I understand that there is a CML six month 'rule', which means that my property ownership will be regarded the same way as if I'd bought the house in December. Will no one buy the property for half a year?

The CML handbook obliges solicitors to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." By the strict wording you might be caught by that. How sensible a view banks take of it, depend on the mortgage company as this requirement is principally there to pick up on subsales or the quick reselling of properties.

is it true that all Chalk Farm solicitor practices on the TSB conveyancing panel are overseen by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?

As solicitors, in order to be on the TSB conveyancing panel they would need to be governed by the SRA. Many mortgage companies do list licenced conveyancers on their panel and in that case the organisation would be governed by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

My wife and I have arranged the release of further monies on our mortgage from Aldermore as we wish to conduct improvements to our property in Chalk Farm. Are we obliged to select a nearby Chalk Farm solicitor on the Aldermore conveyancing panel to handle the paperwork?

Aldermore would not normally instruct a member of their conveyancing panel to handle such a matter. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Aldermore conveyancing panel.

How simple is it to use the search app to get a costs illustration from a conveyancing lawyer in Chalk Farm on the approved list for my mortgage?

Step one is to choose a bank such as Lloyds TSB Bank, Norwich and Peterborough Building Society or Britannia then specify your location for example Chalk Farm. Conveyancing firms in Chalk Farm and across England and Wales should be identified.

Back In 2009, I bought a leasehold house in Chalk Farm. Conveyancing and Bank of Ireland mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing practitioner in Chalk Farm who previously acted has now retired. Any advice?

The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to make sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to instruct a Chalk Farm conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Following years of correspondence we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Chalk Farm. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

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

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Chalk Farm premises is Flat 2 27 Mackeson Road in December 2012. The Tribunal assessed the value of the lease extension premium at £35,435 and rounded the figure to £35,500 This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired term was 64.77 years.