As someone unfamiliar with conveyancing in Christchurch what’s the number one tip you can give me concerning the ownership transfer in Christchurch

Not many law firms or advisers will tell you this but conveyancing in Christchurch or throughout England and Wales is an adversarial process. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there is lots of room for friction between you and other parties involved in the house moving process. For instance, the seller, estate agent and on occasion your lender. Appointing a lawyer for your conveyancing in Christchurch should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE party in the transaction whose interest is to act in your best interests and to protect you.

There is a definite emergence in the "blame" culture- someone has to be at fault for the process taking so long. We recommend that you must always trust your solicitor ahead of the other players in the home moving process.

I have recentlybeen informed that Wolstenholmes have closed. They carried out my conveyancing in Christchurch for a purchase of a freehold house 12 months ago. How can I be sure that the property is registered correctly in the name of the former proprietor?

The quickest method to see if the property is registered to you, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Christchurch conveyancing specialists.

I'm purchasing a new build house in Christchurch benefiting from help to buy. The builders refused to budge the price so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not inform my solicitor about this side-deal as it could adversely affect my loan with the bank. 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.

In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my commercial offices in Christchurch and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act gives a safeguard to commercial lessees, granting the a statutory right to make a request to court for a continuation of occupancy at the end of an expired lease. There are limited grounds that a landlord can refrain from granting a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing practices who use the act for protection and assist with commercial conveyancing in Christchurch

I have today placed an offer on an apartment in Christchurch and the mortgage adviser that we are dealing with recommended his conveyancer. They quoted £1000 plus VAT and disbursements. Does this sound expensive?

Don't just go on 1 estimate. One should seek like-for-like quotes for your conveyancing in Christchurch. Then choose one that you are comfortable with and crucially, is on the approved list of the lender that you have applied for a mortgage from.