In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Norris Green? Is this really necessary?

You are right in the requirement set out by your solicitor has nothing to do with conveyancing in Norris Green. However these days you can not complete any conveyancing deal if you have not providing proof of your identity. Ordinarily this takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence plus a council tax bill. Please note that if you are providing your driving licence as proof of identification it needs to be both the paper section as well as the photo card part, one is not acceptable without the other.

Verification of the origin of money is necessary under Money Laundering Regulations. Don’t be offended when you are asked to produce this as your lawyer will need to have this information on record. Your Norris Green conveyancing solicitor will require evidence of proof of funds prior to accepting any monies from you into their client account and they will also ask further questions regarding the origin of funds.

Various online forums that I have come across warn that are the number one reason for stalling in Norris Green conveyancing transactions. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the findings of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature amongst the common causes of hindrances in the conveyancing process. Local searches are unlikely to feature in any holding up conveyancing in Norris Green.

I am purchasing a new build house in Norris Green benefiting from help to buy. The builders refused to budge the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of extras instead. The property agent suggested that I not inform my solicitor about this extras as it may adversely affect my loan with The Royal Bank of Scotland. Is this normal?.

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 have been sourcing a conveyancing practitioner in Norris Green for my purchase. Is there any facility to check a solicitor's complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

One may find published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions resulting from inquisitions started on or after Jan 2008. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find information Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For callers outside the UK, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA could recorded call for training requirements.

I have noted on various consumer advice websites that before selecting a conveyancing lawyer they must be approved by your mortgage company. This is my first house move but I have an offer in principle via Virgin Money and I already have a bricks and morter conveyancing solicitor in Norris Green on standby. Can HSBC need an approved lawyer to be used? If so, where can I find that list for my conveyancing in Norris Green?

You need to instruct a solicitor that is on the HSBC panel. The first thing to do is telephone your preferred Norris Green conveyancing lawyer to check if they are on the HSBC panel. If they are not approved you have numerous choices open to you here:

• Carry on with your existing Norris Green property lawyer but HSBC will undoubtedly use a conveyancer from their approved list. This will result in additional fees together with potential delay.
• Choose a fresh lawyer to act in the purchase, not forgetting to check that they are on the HSBC conveyancing panel.
• Convince your conveyancer to do everything within their powers to get accepted on the HSBC conveyancing panel.