All was ready to move into my new home in Lampton next Monday. My conveyancing practitioner now wants me to supply her with proof of content and building insurance for the property as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the mortgage company. What does the insurance need to cover?

All property lawyers on acting for banks would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s Part 2 instructions. These requirements are not unique to conveyancing in Lampton.

I'm purchasing a new build house in Lampton with a loan from Coventry Building Society. The builders would not budge the amount so I negotiated £7000 of fixtures and fittings instead. The estate agent advised me not inform my lawyer about this side-deal as it would affect my mortgage with Coventry Building Society. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder 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.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. Lampton is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Lampton are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Lampton you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Lampton may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.

I have been advised by a couple of local property agents in Lampton to select a property lawyer on your site. Is there a financial inducement for Estate Agents to market your site rather than a competitor’s?

We refuse to offer any financial incentive for sending work our way. We thought it would be too underhand a fee as members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

My husband and I are FTB’s - agreed a price, yet the selling agent informed us that the seller will only proceed if we instruct the agent's chosen conveyancers as they want an ‘expedited deal’. We would rather use a high street conveyancer accustomed to conveyancing in Lampton

It is unlikely the sellers are behind this. If they require ‘a quick sale', alienating a genuine purchaser is likely to cause more damage than good. Bypass the agents and go straight to the sellers and make the point that (a)you are motivated purchasers (b)you are ready to progress, with mortgage lined up © you have nothing to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you intend to appoint your own,trusted Lampton conveyancing lawyers - rather thanthe ones that will earn the estate agent a commission or achieve conveyancing figures demanded by head office.