How up to date is your database of Catford solicitors on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel? Do Virgin Money send you an updated list?

Catford conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Virgin Money directly.

Me and my brother own a semi-detached Victorian property in Catford. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Platform Home Loans Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You should 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 Catford and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also question the situation with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the conveyancing.

I'm buying my first flat in Catford with a mortgage from Bank of Scotland. The sellers would not move on the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The estate agent told me not to tell my solicitor about the extras as it may impact my mortgage with the lender. Is this normal?.

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.

Is it simple use your search tool to locate a conveyancing practitioner in Catford on the panel for my lender?

First select a mortgage company such as Birmingham Midshires, Leeds Building Society or Nottingham Building Society then type in your location such as Catford. Conveyancing firms in Catford and across England and Wales should be shown.

My father-in-law has suggested that I use his lawyers for conveyancing in Catford. Do I take his advice?

No doubt the best way to select a conveyancing lawyer is to get feedback from friends or family who have actually experience in using the conveyancer that you are contemplating using.