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

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering regulations require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the identity of the potential client they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing instruction. The Client Care letter that you are required to sign will no doubt reaffirm this. Your lender will also require certain documents to be viewed. If you are unwilling to hand over identification documents, your lawyer would not be able to accept instructions from you.

I am buying a property and require a conveyancing solicitor in Crawley Down who is on the HSBC Bank conveyancing. Can you recommend a local firm?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for HSBC Bank in certain locations such as Crawley Down. We dont recommend any particular firm.

Forgive me if this question is silly but I am unseasoned as FTB of a two bedroom flat in Crawley Down. Do I pick up the keys to the house on the completion date from my lawyer? If this is the case, I will instruct a local conveyancing solicitor in Crawley Down?

On the day of completion you will not be required to attend the conveyancers office in Crawley Down. Your solicitors will transfer the completion advance to the vendor’s lawyers, and once they have received this, you will be invited to pick up the keys from the selling Agents and move into your new home. Usually this occurs between 1 and 3pm.

My partner and I have organised a further advance on our home loan from Co-operative as we want to carry out alterations to our home in Crawley Down. Are we obliged to select a local Crawley Down solicitor on the Co-operative conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?

Co-operative don't usually instruct a member of their conveyancing panel to deal with the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Co-operative panel.

Two weeks ago we had a mortgage agreed in principle with TSB. Crawley Down conveyancing solicitors are appointed. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from TSB?

There is no definitive answer here. Have TSB conducted the valuation? Have you advised TSB as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the TSB conveyancing panel? Sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued.

I'm purchasing a new build house in Crawley Down benefiting from help to buy. The builders would not move on the amount so I negotiated £7000 of fixtures and fittings instead. The sale representative suggested that I not disclose to my lawyer about the extras as it will adversely affect my loan with the bank. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder 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.

Is it the case that all Crawley Down property lawyers on every lender conveyancing panel?

The Lexsure search tool on this page may be of use or you can go into your local lender branch in Crawley Down. Chances are that they will be in a position to recommend some approved conveyancing solicitors in Crawley Down