Our son is purchasing a new build apartment in Drybrook with a home loan from Clydesdale. His lawyer has advised him of a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. What is this document - I have never come across this before?

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 Clydesdale conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the valuer 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 Clydesdale conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

I own a freehold house in Drybrook but nevertheless charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in Drybrook and has limited impact for conveyancing in Drybrook but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of new rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence after 2037 will be dispensed with completely.

I am planning to acquire a property and need a conveyancing solicitor in Drybrook who is on the Coventry Building Society conveyancing. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a solicitor?

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

I have todaybeen informed that Stirling Law have been shut down. They conducted my conveyancing in Drybrook for a purchase of a freehold house 18 months ago. How can I be sure that the property is not still registered in the name of the former proprietor?

The easiest way to check if the property is in your name, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Drybrook conveyancing specialists.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one close by in Drybrook I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 51 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Drybrook suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a short lease?

Should you need a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be problematic. Reduce the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this matter.