I was told yesterday by my mortgage adviser that my Copthorne lawyer is not on the mortgage company Solicitor panel. How can I be sure that this is correct?

You need to call your Copthorne lawyer directly. You lawyer should notify you of the situation. Where they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the conveyancing panel for your bank.

In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Copthorne? Is this really necessary?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the ID of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing retainer. The Client Care letter that you are required to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lender will also require certain documents to be checked. If you are unwilling to hand over ID verification documents, your lawyer would not be able to accept instructions from you.

What does a local search reveal concerning the house I am purchasing in Copthorne?

Copthorne conveyancing often commences with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search organisations such as Xpress Legal The local search plays a central role in most Copthorne conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any unpleasant once you have moved into your property. The search should provide information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 topic headings.

Me and my brother purchased a 4 bedroom Georgian property in Copthorne. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Alliance & Leicester . I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Copthorne and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also enquire as to the position with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the purchase.

I am buying a new build flat in Copthorne. 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.

Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Copthorne

Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. 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.