My god-son is buying a new build apartment in Horfield with a home loan from Aldermore. 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 form 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 Aldermore conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor 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 Aldermore conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Horfield? Why is this being asked of me?

Horfield conveyancing solicitors and indeed property practitioners accross the UK have an obligation under Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules to verify the ID of any client in order to ensure that clients are who they say they are.

Conveyancing clients are required to disclose two forms of certified ID; proof of ID (typically a Passport or Driving Licence) and proof of address (usually a Utility Bill no older than three months).

Evidence of source of monies is also necessary under the money laundering laws as solicitors have a duty to check that the money you are utilising to purchase a property (whether it be the deposit for exchange or the total purchase monies where you are buying mortgage free) has originated from a reputable source (such as an inheritance) as opposed to the proceeds of criminal behaviour.

My wife and I are buying a house in Horfield. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a conveyancer? On the day of competition we have to put money into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our deposit?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

This question may be naive but I am new to the process as FTB of a garden flat in Horfield. Do I pick up the keys to the premises on the completion date from my conveyancer? If so, I will instruct a local conveyancing solicitor in Horfield?

On the day of completion you will not be required to attend the conveyancers office in Horfield. Your solicitors will electronically transfer the completion advance to the seller's lawyers, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you should be invited to pick up the keys from the selling Agents and start moving into the property. Usually this happens between 1 and 3pm.

I am buying a property in Horfield. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Skipton have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?

As your lender is Skipton your lawyer must comply with the formal requirements outlined in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Skipton. The CML Handbook sets out minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Skipton where a lease fails to comply with these requirements. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not restricted to Horfield.

How does conveyancing in Horfield differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Horfield contact us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is completed. This is because builders in Horfield typically purchase the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Horfield or who has acted in the same development.

As co-executor for the estate of my grandfather I am selling a house in Monmouth but live in Horfield. My lawyer (who is 260 kilometers from meneeds me to execute a stat dec ahead of completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing practitioner in Horfield who can witness and place their company stamp on the document?

strictly speaking you are not likely to need to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are Horfield based