My partner and I are purchasing an apartment in Harwell. My lawyer is not on the lender solicitor panel. Am I still permitted to appoint my Harwell conveyancing solicitor even though they are not on the mortgage company panel?

Various options include

• Proceed with your chosen Harwell conveyancer but your mortgage company will need to retain a conveyancing practitioner from their conveyancing panel. The net result is additional charges and probable frustration.
• Get a fresh conveyancer to act in the purchase, ensuring that they are on the mortgage company conveyancing panel.
• Convince your conveyancing practitioner to do everything within their powers to get accepted on the mortgage company conveyancing panel

I am hoping to move into my new home in Harwell next Thursday. My solicitor now wants me to supply her with proof of content and building insurance for the property as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the bank. What does the insurance need to cover?

All property lawyers on acting for mortgage companies would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions. These requirements are not unique to conveyancing in Harwell.

I'm buying a new build house in Harwell benefiting from help to buy. The sellers refused to move on the price so I negotiated 6k of fixtures and fittings instead. The sale representative suggested that I not inform my conveyancer about this extras as it could jeopardize my mortgage 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.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I have offered on a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a quick, chain free conveyancing. Harwell is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Harwell are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Harwell you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Harwell may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.

How do I use the search tool to locate a conveyancing lawyer in Harwell on the authorised to act for my bank?

First select a bank such as Yorkshire Building Society, Leeds Building Society or Alliance & Leicester then type in your preferred area a common one being Harwell. Conveyancing organisations in Harwell and beyond will then be shown.