My son-in-law is about to exchange on a house that has just been built in Calcot and Tilehurst with a home loan from Barclays. His solicitor has advised him of a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. This document is news to me - what is it and who needs sight of it?

The document is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Barclays conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when asked. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Barclays conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

We note that you have a post code search directory listing solicitors on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I retain them for our own conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Co-operative conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst.

My wife and I purchasing a end of terrace house in Calcot and Tilehurst. Our aim is to an extension at the rear at the property.Will legal due diligence on the property include checks to ascertain if these alterations were previously refused?

Your conveyancer will review the deeds as conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst can on occasion identify restrictions in the title deeds which restrict categories of changes or necessitated the permission of another owner. Certain additions require local authority planning consent and approval in compliance with building regulations. Certain areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or impact extensions. It would be prudent to check these issues with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Calcot and Tilehurst off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Virgin Money. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Virgin Money, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel.

It is not clear whether my bank requires a lease extension. I have called into my local Calcot and Tilehurst bank branch on numerous occasions and was told it wasn't a problem and they will lend. My Calcot and Tilehurst conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- called to say that they refuse to lend based on their published requirements. I have no idea who is right.

Your property lawyer must follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook section two requirements for your bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.

I am looking for a flat up to £235,500 and found one round the corner in Calcot and Tilehurst I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 49 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Calcot and Tilehurst for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a short lease?

If you need a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be problematic. Discount the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for at least 2 years you may ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer regarding this.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have just found out that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Calcot and Tilehurst. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be instructed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Calcot and Tilehurst ?

The majority of houses in Calcot and Tilehurst are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area who can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Calcot and Tilehurst in which case you should be looking for a Calcot and Tilehurst conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a leaseholder you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the freeholder’spermission to conduct alterations. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your conveyancer should report to you on the legal implications.

I am the registered owner of a basement flat in Calcot and Tilehurst, conveyancing formalities finalised 3 years ago. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Comparable properties in Calcot and Tilehurst with a long lease are worth £190,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £65 per annum. The lease ends on 21st October 2085

You have 61 years unexpired we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £18,100 and £20,800 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs in the absence of detailed due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other issues that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information before getting professional advice.