We were just about to exchange contracts for a ground floor flat in High Peak. We have hit a stumbling block. The loan offer with Barclays Direct runs out on 10/6/2024 but the sellers are putting forward a completion date of 12/6/2024. Is it possible to extend the loan expiry date?

The best person to deal with your question is your solicitors who will assess if he or she is better off negotiating with the lender, vendor’s conveyancers, property agents or possibly all three based on what has happend in your conveyancing as of today.

In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in High Peak? What am I being asked for?

It is indeed that case that these requests have nothing to do with conveyancing in High Peak. Nowadays you can not complete any conveyancing deal in the absence supplying evidence of your identity. Ordinarily this takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence as well as a bank statement. Remember if you are supplying your driving licence as proof of identification it must be both the paper part and photo card part, one is not satisfactory without the other.

Proof of the source of monies is required under Money Laundering Regulations. Please do not be offended when when this is requested of you as your conveyancer will need to have this information on file. Your High Peak conveyancing practitioner will need to see evidence of proof of funds before they are able to accept any money from you into their client account and they will also ask further queries concerning the source of funds.

My wife and I are intent on selling our property in High Peak and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed land that was not decontaminated. A high street High Peak lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers are using a nationwide conveyancing outfit rather than a conveyancing solicitor in High Peak. Having lived in High Peak for three years we know that this is a non issue. Should we get in touch with our local Authority to seek clarification need.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm already. What do they say? You should check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same sickness)

We're first time buyers - agreed a price, but the selling agent advised that the vendor will only move forward if we use the agent's recommended conveyancers as they are insisting on a ‘quick sale’. My instinct tells me that we should use a family solicitor used to conveyancing in High Peak

It is improbable the owners are driving this. Should the seller desire ‘a quick sale', turning down a motivated buyer is not the way to achieve this. Try to communicate with the sellers directly and make the point that (a)you are serious buyers (b)you are excited to move forward, with finances arranged © you have nothing to sell (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)but you will continue to use your preferred High Peak conveyancing solicitors - not the ones that will earn their estate agent a introducer fee or achieve conveyancing targets demanded by head office.

Much to my surprise my conveyancer in High Peak is asking me for proof of ID documents saying that this forms part of his requirements as a conveyancer on the mortgage company Solicitor panel. Can this be correct?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require High Peak conveyancing solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the identity of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing business. The Client Care letter that you need to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lawyer is right that the lender also require certain documents to be viewed. If a you refuse to provide ID verification documents, your conveyancer would not be able to accept instructions from you. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the mortgage company's UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements