In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Oldham? Why is this being asked of me?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering laws require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the identity of the potential client they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing retainer. The Terms of Engagement that you are required to sign should stipulate this. Your lender will also require certain documents to be checked. Should you are unwilling to supply identification documents, your lawyer would not be able to accept instructions from you.

I am buying a semi-detached house in Oldham. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Oldham you will have to appoint a solicitor on your mortgage company's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Oldham.

My bid for a property was accepted at auction in Oldham. Conveyancing is necessary. What happens now?

Given that you are now exchanged you now have to appoint a conveyancing lawyer quickly as you are faced with a pending a fixed date to complete the property. Every auction property will ordinarily have a corresponding auction set of papers. This will include evidence of title and search results. If you have purchased leasehold property the conveyancing pack may provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing documentation relating to leasehold premises. You should hand this to the solicitor working for you at the earliest opportunity. You also need to ensure that your finances are in place to complete on the on the contractual date .

When it comes to mortgage companies such as TSB, do Oldham conveyancing practitioners face a yearly amount to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any mortgage company fees to be on their panel, although some do levy an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

It is not clear whether my lender requires a lease extension. I have called into my local Oldham building society branch on numerous occasions and was advised it wasn't an issue and they will lend. My Oldham conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called and was told they refuse to lend in accordance with their published requirements. Who do I believe?

The conveyancing practitioner has to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 conditions for your bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the bank will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.

I'm buying a new build house in Oldham with the aid of help to buy. The sellers would not budge the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The house builders rep told me not to tell my lawyer about this extras as it may impact my loan with the lender. Should I keep quiet?.

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.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and identified one near me in Oldham I like with amenity areas and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 52 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Oldham suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?

If you require a home loan the shortness of the lease will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this.