We are a couple about to sign contracts for a garden flat in Canons Park. We have hit a problem. The loan offer with Chelsea Building Society expires on 27/2/2026 but the vendors are suggesting a completion date of 3/3/2026. Is it possible to prolong the mortgage expiry date?

The best person to deal with your question is your conveyancer who will hopefully assess whether he or she is corresponding with the mortgage company, vendor’s solicitors, property agents or possibly all three based on what has gone on in your conveyancing as of today.

I have a decision in principle. The lender mentioned the mortgage came with free conveyancing. Is the implication that I have to appoint their panel solicitor as I would prefer to appoint a local conveyancing solicitor in Canons Park?

You should check but the the likelihood is that appoint one of their panel lawyers where you accept the "fee-free" incentive. Call the mortgage company to see if they offer you a cash alternative. Some mortgage companies have previously offered a £250 cashback as an alternative in which case that money can go towards your preferred conveyancing solicitor in Canons Park.

I am purchasing my first flat in Canons Park with a loan from Accord Mortgages Ltd. The developers refused to reduce the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The property agent suggested that I not to tell my conveyancer about this deal as it could impact 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.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £235,500 and found one round the corner in Canons Park I like with amenity areas and transport links in the vicinity, however it's only got 49 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Canons Park in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a lease with such few years left?

If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease may be an issue. Discount the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you may request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor regarding this.

What tools are available to locate a Canons Park law firm on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel? I drive a motor bike and am prepared to travel upto 10miles to meet the solicitor.

You can use the search on this page. Please pick a mortgage company and your location and you will see a number of Canons Park conveyancing lawyers locally. We have detailed some Canons Park conveyancing firms at the bottom of this page and you can telephone them to see if they are on the Virgin Money panel