Our lawyer has discovered a defect with the lease for the flat we are buying in Steyning. The other side have suggested defective title insurance as a solution. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our solicitor has advised that he must be satisfied that the mortgage company is content with this solution. Are we the client or is the lender?

Regardless of the fact that you have a mortgage offer from the mortgage company does not mean to say that the property will meet their conditions for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. You and the mortgage company are the client. The appropriate lender provisions have to be complied with.

When it comes to mortgage companies such as HSBC, do Steyning conveyancers incur an annual charge to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any lender fees to register on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

The formalities of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Steyning. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I would like to complain about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?

All lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Team at head office. In most cases complaints to a lender are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service with full details of your complaint.

It is unclear whether my mortgage offer requires a lease extension. I have called my Steyning building society branch on a couple of occasions and was told it does not impact the mortgage offer and they would lend. My Steyning conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- telephoned and was told they refuse to lend in accordance with their specific requirements. I simply don't know who is right.

The conveyancing practitioner must follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook section two conditions for your lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.

Do commercial conveyancing searches disclose impending roadworks that may impact a commercial site in Steyning?

Many commercial conveyancing solicitors in Steyning will execute a SiteSolutions Highways report as it reduces the time that conveyancers invest in investigating accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Steyning. The report sets out definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Steyning.

For every commercial conveyancing transaction in Steyning it is critical to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. The absence of identifying developments where adoption procedures have not been dealt with adequately can cause delays to Steyning commercial conveyancing deals as well as pose a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not carried out for domestic conveyancing in Steyning.

I purchased a terraced Victorian house in Steyning. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Chelsea Building Society. 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 need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be 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 Steyning and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also question the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.

I'm buying my first flat in Steyning with a loan from TSB. The builders refused to budge the amount so I negotiated 6k of additionals instead. The property agent suggested that I not inform my solicitor about this side-deal as it would affect my loan with the lender. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

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.