My mortgage broker has requested my Brentwood lawyer’ panel member for the Lloyds conveyancing panel. Can you suggest how I discover this. I have called my local Brentwood office but they don't know it.

The sensible thing to do is ask for this information from your Brentwood conveyancing practitioner . They should have a central record lender panel numbers.

What does a local search tell me about the property we're purchasing in Brentwood?

Brentwood conveyancing often starts with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search company such as Xpress Legal The local search is essential in every Brentwood conveyancing purchase; as long as you don’t want any unpleasant surprises after you move into your new home. The search will supply data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 topic headings.

I used Stirling Law a few years ago for my conveyancing in Brentwood. Now, I need the documents however cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Brentwood of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I'm purchasing a new build house in Brentwood benefiting from help to buy. The builders refused to reduce the price so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The house builders rep advised me not inform my lawyer about the extras as it would affect my mortgage with the lender. 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.

Do I need to be wary by estate agents that I am dealing with are suggesting an online conveyancing firm rather than a High Street Brentwood conveyancing practice?

As with many professional services, often referrals from relatives can be very helpful. Nevertheless there are many people with a vested interest in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and lenders may suggest solicitors to retain. Sometimes the conveyancers might be known to one of the organisations as one of the best in their field, but occasionally there is an underlying commercial relationship behind the endorsement. You have the discretion to choose your own conveyancer. However, bear in mind that some mortgage providers operate an approved list of solicitors you have to use for the mortgage aspect of your home move.