My nephew is about to exchange on a newly built flat in Old Malden with a mortgage from UBS. His solicitor has said that there is a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. This document is news to me - what is it and who needs sight of it?

The document is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the UBS conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the valuer when requested. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the UBS conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Old Malden? Why is this being asked of me?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering laws require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the identification documents of the person or body they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing business. The Terms of Engagement that you need to sign will no doubt reaffirm this. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the CML Lenders Handbook requirements last updated on 1st December 2014. Where you are unwilling to supply ID verification documents, your lawyer can not take you on as a client.

The Old Malden conveyancing solicitors that I recently instructed on my house acquisition in Old Malden have without warning closed. I chose them because I needed a lawyer on the Barclays conveyancing panel and my preferred Old Malden lawyer was not. I gave my credit card details for them to take £195 for searches. What should be my next steps?

Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then inform them straight away so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the Barclays conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers may be able to assist.

Is it best to go with a Old Malden conveyancing solicitor who is local to the property I am buying? I have an old university friend who can conduct the legal formalities but they are based a couple of hundredmiles away.

The benefit of a high street Old Malden conveyancing firm is that you can visit the firm to execute paperwork, hand in your ID and apply pressure on them where appropriate. Having local Old Malden know how is a benefit. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who used your friend and in the main were content that must surpass using an unfamiliar Old Malden conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being local.

Due to sign contracts shortly on a leasehold property in Old Malden. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they report fully tomorrow. What should I be looking out for?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Old Malden should include some of the following:

Responsibility to repair and maintain the building. It is important that you know which party is liable for the repair and maintenance of all parts of the block and communal areas The length of the lease term. You should receive guidance as what happens when the lease ends, and aware of the importance of not letting the lease term falling below eighty years Does the lease prohibit wood flooring? What the implications are if you are in breach of your lease terms? You should be informed what constitutes a Nuisance as far as the lease is concerned

I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord to extend my lease without getting anywhere. Can one apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a Old Malden conveyancing firm to assist?

Absolutely. We are happy to put you in touch with a Old Malden conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Old Malden property is Flat D 15 Claremont Gardens in September 2013. TheTribunal determined in accordance with section48 and Schedule13 of the Leasehold Reform,Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 that the premium for the extended lease should be fourteen thousand one hundred and eighty seven pounds (£14,187.00) This case was in relation to 1 flat.