My god-son is in the process of securing a house that has just been built in Colliers Wood with a mortgage from HSBC. His conveyancer has said that there is 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 form is intended to provide information to the main parties involved in the purchase. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the HSBC conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when requested. 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 HSBC conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

What is the first thing I need to know regarding purchase conveyancing in Colliers Wood?

You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Colliers Wood and elsewhere in South West London is an adversarial process. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there is plenty of room for confrontation between you and other parties involved in the ownership transfer. For example, the seller, estate agent and even potentially a lender. Choosing a law firm for your conveyancing in Colliers Wood is a critical decision as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the SOLE person in the legal process whose responsibility is to act in your legal interests and to keep you safe.

We are witnessing a definite ongoing adversarial element to conveyancing- someone has to be blamed for the process being so protracted. We recommend that you must always trust your lawyer above the other parties in the home moving process.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Colliers Wood?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Colliers Wood. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I have offered on a fortnight ago in what should have been a quick, chain free conveyancing. Colliers Wood is where the house is located. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Colliers Wood are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Colliers Wood you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Colliers Wood may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.

Is it simple use the search app to choose a conveyancing solicitor in Colliers Wood on the panel for my mortgage?

1st select a lender such as Yorkshire Building Society, Bank of Scotland or Barclays Direct then choose your location such as Colliers Wood. Conveyancing firms in Colliers Wood and across England and Wales will then be identified.