Some advice if I may. My Gloucester solicitor is advising me that he is legally obliged toorder Gloucester conveyancing searches due to the fact thatthe firm are on the HSBCapproved lawyer panel. Do I not have a choice here?

Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with a lender your property lawyer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your property lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your bank’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook specifications . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Gloucester conveyancing searches.

It is is a decade since I bought my home in Gloucester. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been appointed on the sale but I am unable to locate my title documents. Is this a problem?

You need not be too concerned. First the deeds may be with your lender or they may be in the possession of the conveyancers who oversaw the purchase. Secondly in most cases the land will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you own the property by your conveyancing solicitors procuring up to date copy of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Gloucester relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your property is not registered it is more tricky but is not insurmountable.

I am purchasing my first flat in Gloucester benefiting from help to buy. The developers would not move on the amount so I negotiated £7000 of fixtures and fittings instead. The property agent suggested that I not disclose to my lawyer about this deal as it could jeopardize my loan with the bank. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

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.

In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my commercial premises in Gloucester and how can your lawyers assist?

The particular law that you refer to provides protection to business leaseholders, giving them the dueness to apply to court for a continuation of occupancy when the lease reaches an end. There are limited grounds where a landlord can refrain from granting a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing firms who use the act to your advantage and help with commercial conveyancing in Gloucester

I need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor for my conveyancing in Gloucester. I've discover a web site which seems to have the ideal solution If it is possible to get all formalities done via web that would be ideal. Do I need to be wary? What should out be looking out for?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?