My wife and I are buying a new build duplex in Shortlands and my solicitor is informing me that she is duty bound to the lender to disclose incentives from the developer. The Estate Agents are hassling me to sign contracts and I would rather not delay matters. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your solicitor. A precondition to being on a lender panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as Santander, do Shortlands property lawyers have to pay a yearly amount to be on the list of approved solicitors?

We are not aware of any mortgage company fees to register on their panel, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

How can we know in advance if a Shortlands conveyancing solicitor on the Aldermore panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Shortlands seeking recommendations is a good start. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advocate that you speak with the lawyer carrying out your transaction.

Completion of my purchase has taken place for my property in Shortlands. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I would like to complain about the lender. How does one go about formally complaining?

Almost all lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Department at head office. In most cases complaints to a lender are resolved very quickly. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.

Various internet forums that I have visited warn that are the number one cause of hinderance in Shortlands house deals. Is that correct?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released determinations of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the most frequent causes of hindrances during the legal transfer of property. Searches are not likely to feature in any slowing down conveyancing in Shortlands.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Shortlands?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Shortlands. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

I am buying a house and cash is in place. My conveyancer has been handed with 2 separate forms of photographic identification, bank statement, endless utility bills. Now he needs a copy from a probate lawyer advising that the funds are legitimate and that it has come from inheritance and not dealing E's in Ibiza.

For some years now requires conveyancing solicitors as well as banks, building societies and other financial institutes to obtain satisfactory evidence of the identity of the client. This is because solicitors who deal with money and property on behalf of their clients can be used by criminals wishing to launder money. In order to comply with the law of money laundering, your Shortlands conveyancing lawyer will need to obtain evidence of your identity as as well as make sure that your funds are legitimate.