My wife and I are buying a brand new apartment in Cobham and my solicitor is advising me that she is duty bound to the bank to disclose incentives from the developer. The Estate Agents are hassling me to exchange contracts and I would rather not delay matters. is my lawyer playing by the book?

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

I am looking to buy a flat and require a conveyancing solicitor in Cobham who is on the Britannia approved. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a conveyancing firm?

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

Can I be sure that the Cobham conveyancing solicitor on the TSB panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Cobham obtaining recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always recommend that you speak with the lawyer carrying out your transaction.

I am expecting a OIP from Bank of Ireland this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Bank of Ireland recommend any Cobham solicitors on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?

You will need to appoint Cobham solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Bank of Ireland through the process.

I have instructed a Cobham conveyancer having made sure that they are on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?

Kent Reliance will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Kent Reliance will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Cobham postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Kent Reliance, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Cobham.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build flat in Cobham. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Set out below are examples of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Cobham

The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants.

Am I best advised to appoint a Cobham conveyancing practitioner who is local to the property I am purchasing? I have an old university friend who can execute the legal work however they are based 300miles drive away.

The benefit of a high street Cobham conveyancing firm is that you can pop in to sign documents, deliver your identification documents and pester them if necessary. Having local Cobham know how is a benefit. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If other friends have used your friend and on the whole were happy that must surpass using an unknown Cobham conveyancing solicitor just because they are round the corner.