We are acquiring a brand new duplex in Chalfont St Peter and my solicitor is telling me that she has to the mortgage company to disclose incentives from the builder. I am on a tight deadline to exchange contracts and my preference is not to prolong the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on a lender panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

It is 10 years ago since I purchased my home in Chalfont St Peter. Conveyancing solicitors have just been instructed on the sale but I am unable to find the title documents. Is this a problem?

You need not be too concerned. First the deeds may be with the mortgage company or they could be in the possession of the conveyancers who handled the purchase. Secondly the chances are that the property will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors procuring current official copies of the land registers. Almost all conveyancing in Chalfont St Peter involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is not registered it is more of a problem but is resolvable.

I acquired my flat on 11 April and the transaction details is yet to be on the land registry website. Should I be concerned? My conveyancing solicitor in Chalfont St Peter advises it will be concluded in less than a month. Are properties in Chalfont St Peter uniquely lengthy to register?

There is nothing unique about conveyancing in Chalfont St Peter registration formalities. Rather than based on location, timescales can differ depending on the party submitting the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry must send notices to any other persons or bodies. As of today approximately three quarters of submission are fully dealt with in less than three weeks but occasionally there can be longer hold-ups. Registration occurs once the new owner has moved in to the property thus post completion formalities is not always top priority but if there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your lawyers should contact the land registry and explain the circumstances.

I am purchasing my first flat in Chalfont St Peter with a loan from Nottingham Building Society. The sellers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not reveal to my solicitor about the extras as it would jeopardize my loan with the bank. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

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.

My father-in-law has encouraged me to instruct his conveyancers in Chalfont St Peter. Do I follow his recommendation?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Chalfont St Peter conveyancing lawyer the ideal way to find a conveyancing lawyer is to get referrals from friends or family who have previously instructed the solicitor that you are considering.