It is 10 years ago since I purchased my home in Chipstead. Conveyancing solicitors have recently been instructed on the sale but I can't locate the deeds. Is this a problem?

You need not be too concerned. Firstly the deeds may be retained by your lender or they may stored with the lawyers who oversaw the purchase. Secondly the chances are that the title will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring current official copies of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Chipstead relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your home is not registered it adds to the complexity but is resolvable.

We are buying a newly converted flat in Chipstead with a mortgage from Chelsea Building Society.We have a Chipstead conveyancing practitioner but Chelsea Building Society says she’s not listed on their approved list of member firms. we are left little option but to use a Chelsea Building Society panel firm or retain our high street solicitor and fork out for a Chelsea Building Society panel lawyer to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?

Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you contains terms and conditions, one of which will be that solicitors will be on the Chelsea Building Society solicitor panel. in the past, most lenders had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Chelsea Building Society

I am buying a new build house in Chipstead with the aid of help to buy. The developers refused to reduce the price so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The sale representative told me not disclose to my conveyancer about the extras as it could jeopardize my loan with Platform Home Loans Ltd. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

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.

Due to the encouragement of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Chipstead ahead of appointing lawyers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. The surveyor has said that some lenders will refuse to give a mortgage on such a home.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different instructions for example to Nationwide. Should you wish to telephone us we can look into this further with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Chipstead. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Chipstead especially if they regularly deal with such properties in Chipstead.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my ground floor apartment in Chipstead. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed, however I have recently had a half-yearly service charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

It best that you discharge the invoice as you normally would given that all ground rent and service charges will be apportioned on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer until 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 have attempted and failed to negotiate with my landlord to extend my lease without any joy. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal decide on such matters? Can you recommend a Chipstead conveyancing firm to act on my behalf?

if there is a absentee freeholder or where there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the relevant legislation it is possible to make an application to the LVT to calculate the premium.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Chipstead property is 223 Brighton Road in September 2013. The premium payable for the acquisition freehold of the properties should be £10,934 (Ten thousand,nine hundred and thirty four pounds) This case affected 3 flats. The unexpired lease term was 75 years.