I am acquiring a property without a mortgage in Corston. I have lived for the last 20 years in Corston. Conveyancing searches are a lot of money. Given that I know the road and vicinity intimately should I not bother getting the solicitor to do all the conveyancing searches?

Provided that you do not need a mortgage, then the vast majority of the Corston conveyancing searches are at your discretion. Your conveyancer will 'advise', no-doubt strongly, that you should have searches carried out, but she is duty bound to take that path of guidance. Do bear in mind; if you are intend to sell the house in the future, it will likely be be of interest to your future purchaser what the searches contain. There are plenty of instances where houses with day to day issues can still throw up unexpected search results. A good conveyancing solicitor in Corston should be able to give you some sensible guidance concerning this.

I purchased a freehold house in Corston but nevertheless pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in Corston and has limited impact for conveyancing in Corston but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of new rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 is to be extinguished.

Our lender has recommended a law firm on their panel based in Corston but I would rather choose a conveyancing lawyer in Corston round the corner to me. Can you help?

The minority of Corston conveyancing practitioners are listed all banks conveyancing panel. Do make use of our search tool to identify a Corston conveyancing firm on the on the bank panel.

I'm buying a new build house in Corston with a loan from Clydesdale. The builders refused to budge the price so I negotiated 6k of fixtures and fittings instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not disclose to my solicitor about the extras as it would jeopardize my mortgage with the bank. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

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.

I decided to have a survey carried out on a property in Corston in advance of instructing lawyers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the property. My surveyor has said that some banks will not give a mortgage on this type of property.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different instructions for example to Halifax. If you e-mail us we can check via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Corston. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.