We have agreed to purchase a house in East Oxford. An unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Santander be concerned?

As your lender is Santander your lawyer must check the formal instructions outlined in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Santander. The CML Handbook stipulates minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancers are required to report to Santander where a lease fails to meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not isolated to East Oxford.

We were going to get a AIP from Bank of Ireland this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like 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 East Oxford solicitors on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?

You will need to appoint East Oxford 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.

My wife and I are in the process of looking at houses in East Oxford and I am about to put in an offer. Is it too early to have a solicitor in place? I will be getting a home loan with RBS.

It would be sensible to instigate your search sooner rather than later. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their details on to the selling agent. Given that you are getting a mortgage with RBS, ask your prospective lawyers if they are on the RBS conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.

four months have elapsed following my purchase conveyancing in East Oxford completed. I have checked the Land Registry website which shows that I paid £200,000 when infact I paid £160,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the asset from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

I am buying my first flat in East Oxford with a mortgage from National Westminster Bank. The builders refused to reduce the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of extras instead. The estate agent suggested that I not inform my lawyer about this extras as it may put at risk my mortgage with National Westminster Bank. Is this normal?.

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.

Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in East Oxford with the aim of speeding up the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in East Oxford can be reduced where you appoint lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold information needed by the buyers’ conveyancers.
A minority of East Oxford leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers put in hand financial (bank) and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their solicitors. If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should ensure that you hold the original share document. Arranging a replacement share certificate can be a lengthy formality and frustrates many a East Oxford home move. Where a new share certificate is required, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (if applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity. Many landlords or managing agents in East Oxford levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should discover the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack sought on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most common reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in East Oxford.

East Oxford Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to buying

The majority of East Oxford leasehold properties will be liable to pay a service charge for maintenance of the building set by the landlord. If you purchase the property you will have to meet this amount, usually quarterly throughout the year. This may be anything from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for bigger purpose-built buildings. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge to be met yearly, this is usually not a exorbitant sum, say approximately £25-£75 but you should to enquire it because occasionally it can be many hundreds of pounds. What prohibitions are contained in the East Oxford Lease?

I am seeking to purchase a repossessed flat in East Oxford and the bank selling demand completion within a week. Can a lawyer meet that timeframe? Would it be better to instruct a high street East Oxford firm or an online organisation that advertises to complete quickly?

Attend your East Oxford high street. Pop in to two or three firms and ask to talk to a conveyancing solicitor for an estimate. Set out your needs and get assurances on speed. Appoint the one that appears most efficient. Be sure to choose a lawyer on the list of lawyers approved by your mortgage company.