My wife and I have a renovated Georgian house in Rochford. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold with the matching address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Rochford and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also enquire as to the position with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted the purchase.

I am buying a new build house in Rochford with the aid of help to buy. The builders refused to reduce the amount so I negotiated £7000 of additionals instead. The sale representative suggested that I not reveal to my conveyancer about this deal as it will jeopardize my mortgage with the bank. Should I keep quiet?.

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.

Do I need to be wary about brokers that I am dealing with are encouraging me to use a factory type conveyancing firm as opposed to a local Rochford conveyancing company?

As with lots of service providers, often suggestions from relatives can be extremely useful or valuable. Yet there are lots of people with a vested interest in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and mortgage companies may recommend conveyancers to instruct. Sometimes the lawyers might be known to one of the organisations as being good in their field, but sometimes there exists a commercial relationship behind the recommendation. You have the discretion to appoint your own conveyancer. You need to be aware that some lenders specify a panel list of conveyancers you have to use for the lender related work in your conveyancing.

I need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor for my conveyancing in Rochford. I happened to stumble upon a web site which seems to have the perfect offering If there is a chance to get all the legals completed via phone that would be ideal. Should I be concerned? What are the potential pitfalls?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

Been on the hunt for a conveyancing practitioner for leasehold sale conveyancing in Rochford. We are selling, simple no mortgage to pay off, no hurry, currently vacant. Got a quote from a conveyancer for £900 including VAT which is a little expensive considering its so straightforward. Is it possible to find less expensive fees for conveyancing in Rochford?

Considering it’s a sale only, £450 + VAT should be about the best for sale conveyancing in Rochford.