Our Whetstone lawyer has discovered an inconsistency between the surveyor’s assumptions in the home valuation report and what is revealed within the conveyancing documents. My lawyer has advised that he is duty bound to ensure that the lender is happy with this discrepancy and is content to go ahead. Is my lawyer’s course or action legitimate?

Your lawyer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.

At what point will exchange of contracts happen for sale conveyancing in Whetstone and do I need to be at the conveyancers branch?

Where you are local to one of the conveyancing solicitors in Whetstone you are welcome to attend to sign the paperwork. That being said, the law practices we work with offer countrywide coverage for conveyancing and provide as equally comprehensive and professional a job for you when communicating with you electronically. The executing of the sale agreement is not the critical part. Signing on the dotted line is necessary for the solicitor to officially exchange when the time is right, which will usually be very shortly after signing. The exchange process is is usually a five minute process, although where an extended "chain" is involved, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Whetstone)to be in the office at the appropriate time.

I'm buying a new build house in Whetstone with a loan from HSBC Bank. The builders refused to budge the amount so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not disclose to my lawyer about this deal as it will impact my loan with the lender. Should I keep quiet?.

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.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what was supposed to be a simple, chain free conveyancing. Whetstone is the location of the property. Can you offer any advice?

Flying freeholds in Whetstone are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Whetstone you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Whetstone may determine 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 property.

Should I be wary about 3rd parties that I am dealing with are suggesting an online conveyancing firm as opposed to a High Street Whetstone conveyancing firm?

As with many professional services, often recommendations from relatives can be most helpful. Yet there are many parties with a keen interest in a conveyancing transaction; estate agents, mortgage brokers and lenders may recommend conveyancers to choose. On occasion these conveyancers might be known to one of the organisations as one of the best in their field, but sometimes there may be a financial incentive behind the endorsement. You have the right to select your preferred conveyancer. However, bear in mind that many banks have an approved list of solicitors you have to use for the lender aspect of your transaction.