My husband and I are buying a maisonette in Southgate. My Solicitor is not on the lender conveyancing panel. Can I still appoint my Southgate conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the mortgage company list of approved lawyers?

You have numerous options open to you here

• Carry on with your chosen Southgate but your bank will undoubtedly appoint a on their approved list. This will result in additional fees and potential delay.
• Appoint a fresh to act in the purchase, ensuring that they are on the lender conveyancing panel.
• Convince your conveyancing practitioner to pull out all the stops to get listed on the mortgage company panel of solicitors

We are approaching an exchange on a property in Southgate and my mum and dad have transferred the exchange deposit to my . I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my needs to make a notification to my bank. Apparently, in also acting for the mortgage company he must advise them that the balance of the purchase price is coming from anyone other than me. I disclosed to the lender regarding my parents' contribution when I applied for the home loan, so is it really necessary for him to raise this?

Your is obliged to clarify with the bank to make sure that they understand that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. Your solicitor can only report this to your bank if you permit them to, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.

Will commercial conveyancing searches disclose planned roadworks that may impact a commercial property in Southgate?

Many commercial conveyancing solicitors in Southgate will order a SiteSolutions Highways report as it reduces the time that conveyancers expend in sourcing accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Southgate. The search result sets out definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Southgate.

For every commercial conveyancing transaction in Southgate it is critical to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. The absence of identifying developments where adoption procedures have not been dealt with adequately could cause delays to Southgate commercial conveyancing transactions as well as pose a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not conducted for residential conveyancing in Southgate.

I'm purchasing my first flat in Southgate with a loan from . The developers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated 6k of fixtures and fittings instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not inform my lawyer about this extras as it could jeopardize my loan with the lender. 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.

I am looking for a flat up to £195,000 and found one round the corner in Southgate I like with a park and railway links nearby, however it's only got 51 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Southgate in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you need a home loan that many years will be problematic. Reduce the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.