My partner and I are buying a newly constructed flat in Blackpool and my lawyer is informing me that she is duty bound to the bank to disclose incentives from the builder. I am on a tight deadline to sign contracts and my preference is not to delay the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your . A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

I have a decision in principle. The bank mentioned the home loan came with free conveyancing. Does this mean I have to use their panel solicitor as I would much rather appoint a high street conveyancing solicitor in Blackpool?

You should check but the the likelihood is that allocate you one of their panel solicitors should you take up the "fee-free" incentive. Speak to the bank to check if they make available a monetary alternative. Some mortgage companies have previously offered a £250 cashback as a further option in which case that money can go towards the cost for your conveyancing solicitor in Blackpool.

The deeds to our property are lost. The solicitors who handled the conveyancing in Blackpool 10 years ago have long since closed. What are my next steps?

Gone are the days when you need to hold title official documentation to prove you own the land or property, given that the Land Registry hold details of all registered land or property electronically.

I'm buying my first flat in Blackpool with a mortgage from . The builders would not budge the price so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The sale representative told me not reveal to my solicitor about the extras as it may put at risk my mortgage with . Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

Why is it not possible to complete our conveyancing in Blackpool on May bank holiday?

Because on completion the purchase price will pass between the banks of the buyer and seller's and at present this can only take place on a working day. It is not possible to complete on a weekend either.