It has been five months following my purchase conveyancing in Melbourn completed. I have checked the Land Registry site which shows that I paid £200,000 when infact I paid £215,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the property from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

I am buying my first flat in Melbourn with a loan from . The sellers refused to budge the amount so I negotiated £7000 of additionals instead. The property agent told me not to tell my lawyer about the extras as it will affect my mortgage with . 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.

I have been advised by a few estate agents in Melbourn to get a quote from a property lawyer using your seach tool. What’s the financial incentive for Estate Agents to offer your site ahead of a competitor’s?

We don’t offer any commission for sending work in our direction. We thought it would be too underhand a fee because a client could think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

Am I better off to choose a Melbourn conveyancing lawyer in close proximity to the house I am purchasing? We have a good friend who can perform the conveyancing however his firm is located 300kilometers drive away.

The benefit of a high street Melbourn conveyancing practice is that you can visit the firm to execute paperwork, present your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local intelligence which is a bonus. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who used your friend and the majority were content that must trump using an unknown Melbourn conveyancing lawyer just because they are local.

I've found a house that seems to be perfect, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have since found out that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns buying a house with a leasehold title in Melbourn. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been instructed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Melbourn are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Melbourn in which case you should be shopping around for a Melbourn conveyancing solicitor and check that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a leaseholder you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the landlord’spermission to conduct changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the house is part of an estate. Your lawyer will advise you fully on all the issues.