My wife and I are purchasing a brand new flat in Redbridge and my solicitor is advising me that she is duty bound to the bank to disclose incentives from the builder. I am on a tight deadline to sign contracts and I don't want to prolong deal. Is my lawyer right?

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

This question may be naive but I am wet behind the ears as a first time buyer of a ground floor flat in Redbridge. Do I pick up the keys to the premises on completion from my solicitor? If this is the case, I will use a local conveyancing solicitor in Redbridge?

On the day of completion you do not need to attend the conveyancers office in Redbridge. Your solicitors will transfer the purchase money to the owner’s lawyers, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you will be able to receive the keys from the selling Agents and move into your new home. This tends to happen early afternoon.

My wife and I purchasing a 3 bedroom semi in Redbridge. The intention is to carry out a loft conversion at the property.Will the conveyancing process involve investigations to ascertain if these alterations are permitted?

Your conveyancer should check the deeds as conveyancing in Redbridge can occasionally identify restrictions in the title documents which restrict certain alterations or need the consent of another owner. Certain extensions require local authority planning consent and approval in compliance with building regulations. Many areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or affect extensions. You should check these issues with a surveyor before you commit yourself to a purchase.

Is it the case that all Redbridge solicitor practices on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel are governed by the SRA?

As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel they would need to be overseen by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many banks do list licenced conveyancers on their panel and in such a situation the firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in Redbridge. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.

Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Redbridge

Please supply a car parking plan. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified.

How simple is it to switch firm as I have to appoint one who is on the Alliance & Leicester conveyancing list. I was using a family conveyancing solicitor in Redbridge five minutes from me but the firm is not accepted by Alliance & Leicester

It would be our pleasure to help you select a conveyancing solicitor in Redbridge on the Alliance & Leicester panel. Please note that the law firms that we on the directory do not pay us fee if you instruct them and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority who oversee all conveyancing solicitors in Redbridge. Using search facility on this site, you can compare and instruct different solicitors and conveyancers both nationally and in Redbridge.

I am looking for a conveyancing practitioner in Redbridge for my sale. Is it possible to see a solicitor's record with the legal regulator?

Anyone can find presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions stemming from inquisitions commenced on or after Jan 2008. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For information about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's history, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For callers outside the UK, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA could monitor call for training requirements.