I am purchasing a brand new duplex in Gipsy Hill and my solicitor is telling me that she is duty bound to the bank to disclose incentives from the seller. I am under pressure to sign contracts and I have no desire to delay matters. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as Skipton, do Gipsy Hill conveyancers incur a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are unaware of any mortgage company fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.

Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Gipsy Hill. Conveyancing was a necessary evil but I would like to complain about the lender. How does one go about formally complaining?

Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are resolved effectively and efficiently. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.

I can not fathom if my bank requires a lease extension. I have called into my local Gipsy Hill bank branch on a couple of occasions and was told it does not affect the mortgage offer and they would lend. My Gipsy Hill conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- called and was told they refuse to lend based on their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?

The lawyer has to follow the CML Handbook Part 2 requirements for your lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the mortgage company to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

I bought my apartment on 13 July and the transaction details is not yet registered. Need I be worried? My conveyancing solicitor in Gipsy Hill expressed confidence that it should be concluded inside ten days. Are properties in Gipsy Hill particularly slow to register?

There is nothing unique about conveyancing in Gipsy Hill registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timescales can vary subject to the party submitting the application, whether there are errors and if the Land registry must send notices to any other parties. Currently approximately three quarters of submission are fully dealt with in less than three weeks but occasionally there can be protracted hold-ups. Historically registration occurs after the purchaser has moved in to the premises therefore an expedited registration is not typically primary concern but if there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your lawyers should contact the land registry and explain the circumstances.

What does commercial conveyancing in Gipsy Hill cover?

Gipsy Hill conveyancing for business premises incorporates a wide array of advice, given by regulated solicitors, relating to business premises. By way of example, this type of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more usually, the assignment of existing business tenancies or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial loans and the termination of tenancies.

My brother is buying a shared ownership flat in Gipsy Hill. He has received an estimate by the conveyancer connected to the estate agents and it came to £1156 . It was ten years ago since I sold and bought a home and the bill was £450. Have charges really increased to that extent?

What does the conveyancing estimate include? Is it just for the legal fees, or what you will be paying in total (for example Gipsy Hill searches, land registry fees, etc)