We are a couple about to exchange contracts for a semi detached house in Hedge End and Botley. We have hit a problem. Our loan offer with Skipton Building Society runs out on 10/2/2025 but the sellers are suggesting a completion date of 12/2/2025. Can one prolong the loan offer?

The best person to address this concern is your solicitors who will calculate whether they corresponding with the lender, vendor’s conveyancers, selling agents or possibly all three based on what has happend in your house move to date.

We're in Hedge End and Botley, First timers buying with a mortgage (lender is Lloyds , and our solicitor is on the Lloyds conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Lloyds conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no lawyer should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.

I am purchasing a new build house in Hedge End and Botley with the aid of help to buy. The developers would not move on the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The estate agent suggested that I not inform my solicitor about this extras as it may affect my mortgage with Clydesdale. Should I keep quiet?.

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.

I decided to have a survey carried out on a property in Hedge End and Botley in advance of appointing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor has said that some mortgage companies tend not issue a mortgage on a flying freehold house.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different requirements for example to Halifax. Should you wish to telephone us we can investigate further via the appropriate mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Hedge End and Botley. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Hedge End and Botley to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.

I was recommended by numerous property agents in Hedge End and Botley to choose a property lawyer using your seach tool. What’s the financial advantage for Estate Agents to offer your lawyers over and above alternative conveyancing organisations?

We don’t give any commission for sending work our way. We found it would be just too difficult a fee because members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.