Recently been in touch with my conveyancing lawyer in Oxfordshire who acted for me 18 months ago and wanted a conveyancing estimate based on the same type of home move (a leasehold residence and a freehold property) of similar values with a home loan from Barnsley Building Society. It looks as though am now being charged double. Am I right to be tempted to shop around for a cheaper internet firm of conveyancing solicitor?

The costs illustration is slightly on the expensive side. If you shop around you might get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by perhaps £125. That being said, if you were pleased with the assistance the firm gave you couldlive to regret opting for an a cheaper solicitor. Remember to be sure that the conveyancer can also act for Barnsley Building Society. You can utilise our search tool to choose a Oxfordshire conveyancing firm on the Barnsley Building Society conveyancing panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Oxfordshire.

My wife and I are purchasing a new build duplex in Oxfordshire and my conveyancer is informing me that she is duty bound to the bank to reveal incentives from the builder. The Estate Agents are hassling me to exchange contracts and I don't want to delay the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your property lawyer. A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

I need some expedited conveyancing in Oxfordshire as I am faced with a deadline to complete within 2 weeks. A mortgage is not required. Can I avoid the conveyancing searches to save fees and time?

As you are not obtaining a mortgage you have the choice not to have searches conducted although no conveyancer would suggest that you don't. With lots of history conveyancing in Oxfordshire the following are instances of issues that can arise and adversely impact future saleability: Enforcement Actions, Overdue Charges, Overdue Grants, Road Schemes,...

What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Oxfordshire conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Oxfordshire conveyancing practice) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggest that you speak with two or three firms including non Oxfordshire conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions could be of use:

If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

I acquired a split level flat in Oxfordshire, conveyancing was carried out 6 years ago. Can you let me have an estimate of the premium that my landlord can legally expect in return for granting a renewal of my lease? Equivalent flats in Oxfordshire with an extended lease are worth £175,000. The ground rent is £65 invoiced annually. The lease runs out on 21st October 2082

With just 58 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £23,800 and £27,400 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs without more detailed due diligence. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.

Our property lawyer in Oxfordshire is asking me for personal identification documents stating that this is part of his retainer as a solicitor on the lender Solicitor panel. Can you confirm whether this is the case?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require Oxfordshire 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 mortgage company 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 bank's UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements