It is a dozen years since I acquired my home in Fareham. Conveyancing solicitors have just been instructed on the sale but I can't find my title deeds. Will this cause complications?

You need not be too concerned. Firstly the deeds may be kept by the lender or they could still be with the lawyers who oversaw the purchase. Secondly in all probability the title will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors procuring current official copies of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Fareham involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is not registered it is more tricky but is not insurmountable.

We're in Fareham, First time buyers buying with a mortgage (lender is Nationwide , and our lawyer is on the Nationwide conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Nationwide conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no lawyer should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.

Should commercial conveyancing searches disclose impending roadworks that could affect a commercial premises in Fareham?

Its becoming the norm that commercial conveyancing solicitors in Fareham will perform a SiteSolutions Highways report as it dramatically cuts the time that conveyancers invest in researching accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Fareham. The report sets out definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Fareham.

For each commercial conveyancing transaction in Fareham it is critical to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. Failure to identify developments where adoption procedures have not been dealt with adequately can result in delays to Fareham commercial conveyancing deals as well as pose a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not conducted for domestic conveyancing in Fareham.

I'm purchasing a new build house in Fareham with a mortgage from Barclays Direct. The builders refused to reduce the price so I negotiated £7000 of additionals instead. The estate agent suggested that I not reveal to my lawyer about the side-deal as it would put at risk my mortgage with the lender. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder 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.

I decided to have a survey completed on a property in Fareham prior to appointing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold element to the property. My surveyor advised that some lenders tend refuse to issue a mortgage on a flying freehold premises.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different requirements for example to Halifax. If you call us we can check with the appropriate mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Fareham. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.