I am buying my first flat in Hartlepool with a loan from HSBC Bank. The sellers would not reduce the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The property agent advised me not inform my lawyer about the deal as it could jeopardize my mortgage with HSBC Bank. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

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.

Given that I am about to spend over three hundred thousand on a house in Hartlepool I wish to talk to a lawyer regarding thehouse move before instructing the firm. Can this be arranged?

Absolutely - we would be delighted to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you first talking to the lawyer due to be conducting your property ownership legalities in Hartlepool.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is unique individual, not a case number. The solicitors that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are calculated and presented to you for residential conveyancing in Hartlepool should be the figure that you end up paying.

I have been sourcing a conveyancing lawyer in Hartlepool for my home move. Is there any facility to check a solicitor's complaints history with the legal regulator?

Members of the public can review documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations stemming from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For non-uk callers, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator may monitor telephone calls for training purposes.

I am on look out for some leasehold conveyancing in Hartlepool. Before I set the wheels in motion I would like to find out the remaining lease term.

Assuming the lease is registered - and most are in Hartlepool - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title. For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

I acquired a basement flat in Hartlepool, conveyancing having been completed February 2012. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Similar flats in Hartlepool with over 90 years remaining are worth £201,000. The ground rent is £45 charged once a year. The lease ceases on 21st October 2090

With only 65 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to span between £13,300 and £15,400 as well as costs.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs without more comprehensive due diligence. You should not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward based on this information before getting professional advice.

What are the distinct benefits to using a high street conveyancing practitioner in Hartlepool

Lots of house movers in Hartlepool decide on using a nearby high street lawyer so that they can pop into the lawyer’s offices if they have concerns, and to deliver documents without using the post.

Some would suggest that there is a distinct benefit when opting for a conveyancing practitioner nearby to the premises you are hoping to purchase, due to the familiarity of the region and potential local concerns - however this is debatable. The majority of conveyancers are now online and may be practically anywhere.