We see that you have a post code search directory listing solicitors on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I instruct them for our conveyancing in Greenwich?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Greenwich.

Are all Greenwich Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Nottingham conveyancing panel?

It is true that some banks and building societies now make use of the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitors wishing to join their approved list of firms.

After weeks of negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment in Greenwich. My mortgage broker suggested a conveyancer. I paid an on account payment of £175. Not long after, the lawyer called me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the Skipton conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Skipton panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

I've read lots of mortgage guides, I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Greenwich solicitor - who is on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?

Bank of Ireland will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Bank of Ireland will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your property lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Greenwich postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Bank of Ireland, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Greenwich.

Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Greenwich ahead of instructing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. Our surveyor has said that some mortgage companies will not give a loan on a flying freehold property.

It depends who your proposed lender is. HSBC has different instructions for example to Birmingham Midshires. Should you wish to telephone us we can look into this further with the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Greenwich. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Greenwich to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.

My husband and I are new to the buying process - had an offer accepted, yet the estate agent advised that the owners will only issue a contract if we appoint the agent's recommended solicitors as they are insisting on an ‘expedited deal’. My instinct tells me that we should use a high street solicitor who is familiar with conveyancing in Greenwich

We suspect that the owner is not behind this ultimatum. If they desire ‘a quick sale', turning down a motivated buyer is counter productive. Speak to the owners direct and make the point that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to go, with mortgage lined up © you do not need to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you will continue to use your preferred Greenwich conveyancing firm - rather thanthose that will provide their estate agent a referral fee or hit his conveyancing targets pre-set by HQ.

We have selected a Greenwich conveyancing solicitor for our home move (first time buyers) and have picked up in the terms and conditions that they are not governed by the Financial Conduct Authority. Am I right to be concerned or is that the norm with lawyer?

We can't see why they should be. Most property lawyer don't lend money. They should be governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, who have stringent stipulations in relation to monies sitting by them.