Our son-in-law is in the process of securing a new build apartment in Hope Valley with a mortgage from Clydesdale. His solicitor has advised him of a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. This document is news to me - what is it and who needs sight of it?

The document is intended to provide information to the main parties involved in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the valuer when asked. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Clydesdale conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

My mortgage company has suggested a law firm on their panel based in Hope Valley but I would rather use a conveyancing lawyer in Hope Valley or nearer to where I live. Can you assist?

Not all Hope Valley conveyancing practitioners are approved and listed on all banks conveyancing panel. Do make use of our search tool to identify a Hope Valley conveyancing solicitor on the on the mortgage company panel.

Me and my brother have a 4 bedroom Edwardian property in Hope Valley. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and Nottingham Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the matching address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

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 Hope Valley and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the situation with the conveyancing solicitor who conducted the purchase.

I'm buying my first flat in Hope Valley with the aid of help to buy. The sellers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated £7000 of fixtures and fittings instead. The property agent advised me not to tell my lawyer about the deal as it could jeopardize my mortgage with the bank. 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.

What is the distinction between surveying and conveyancing in Hope Valley?

Conveyancing - in Hope Valley or elsewhere - is the process of legally transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It involves the investigation of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you’re purchasing and will help you discover the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you a powerful reason for reducing the price down or asking the seller to fix the defects before you complete your move.