Should conveyancers request money up-front for conveyancing in Watford?

If you are buying a property in Watford your solicitor will ask you to provide them with monies to cover the the cost of the conveyancing searches. This will be the total of the cost of the conveyancing searches. If any deposit is as part of the purchase price then this will be needed shortly prior to exchange of contracts. Any further balance that is needed will be payable a few days prior to the completion date.

I am thinking of mortgaging my property in Watford, does my lawyer have to be on the RBS Conveyancing panel?

There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor, but RBS will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is greater potential for delays and confusion with two solicitors involved, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.

My wife and I own a 4 bedroom Victorian property in Watford. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and Coventry Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold with the matching property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You need to assess 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 Watford and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also enquire as to the position with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the purchase.

I'm purchasing my first flat in Watford benefiting from help to buy. The sellers refused to move on the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The house builders rep told me not to tell my lawyer about this deal as it may impact my loan with the bank. 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.

How do I search for a Watford solicitor on the Barclays Direct conveyancing panel? I drive a motor bike and am willing to travel upto 25miles to meet the lawyer.

You can use the search on this page. Please select a bank and your location and you will see a number of Watford conveyancing lawyers based on proximity. We have listed some Watford conveyancing firms at the bottom of this page and you can ring them to see whether they are on the Barclays Direct approved list