I am buying residence in West Haddon. My lawyer is not on the lender approved panel. Is it possible for me to appoint my West Haddon conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the lender list of approved lawyers?

You have a number of choices available to you here

• Proceed with your chosen West Haddon lawyer but your lender will need to retain a conveyancing practitioner on their approved list. This will result in additional fees and probable interruption.
• Appoint a new lawyer to conduct the conveyancing, obviously checking they are on the lender conveyancing panel.
• Appeal to your conveyancing practitioner to seek to join the lender panel

I am about to complete buying a house in West Haddon but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have managed to agree recompense from the vendor of £3k by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be addressed as part of amending the contract yet HSBC will not agree to this. Should they have been involved?

Any lawyer being on a HSBC approved list is required to disclose to HSBC of any amendments to the sale price. If you were to refuse your conveyancer to report the price change to HSBC then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, HSBC and you would have to appoint a new conveyancer for your conveyancing in West Haddon.

Why do I have to pay up front for my conveyancing in West Haddon?

If you are buying a property in West Haddon your solicitor will ask you to provide them with funds to cover the search fees. This will be the total of the cost of the Local Authority Search. When the deposit is payable against the sale price then this should be required immediately prior to exchange of contracts. The closing balance that is due should be sent to your lawyer shortly before completion.

I have a decision in principle. The lender mentioned the mortgage came with free conveyancing. Is the implication that I have to use their panel conveyancer as I would much rather instruct a specialised conveyancing solicitor in West Haddon?

Do check but the chances are that appoint one of their panel lawyers if you take up the "fee-free" deal. Call the bank to explore if they allow a monetary alternative. Some lenders have previously offered a £250 cashback as a further option in which case that money can go towards your preferred conveyancing solicitor near West Haddon.

We are purchasing a house and the lawyer has identified Chancel Repair for which the house could be obligated to pay given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. He has suggested insurance. Is this strictly required for conveyancing in West Haddon

Unless a prior purchase of the premises took place after 12 October 2013 you can take it that lawyers carrying out conveyancing in West Haddon to continue to suggest a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.