My partner’s step-father is a solicitor. I expect that I will receive preferential pricing for conveyancing, but if not, what kind of fees should I be paying for conveyancing in Winnersh?

You should compare pricing. Make use of our comparison tool on this site. Whilst amounts seem to be different but the service one can expect are distinct between property lawyers as is the case with most professions.

My wife and I purchasing a terrace house in Winnersh. Our aim is to an extension at the rear at the property.Will legal investigations on the property involve investigations to see if these alterations are prohibited?

Your solicitor should check the registered title as conveyancing in Winnersh will on occasion identify restrictions in the title documents which prohibit certain changes or need the permission of another owner. Many additions need local authority planning permissions and approval in accordance building regulations. Some areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or impact extensions. It would be prudent to check these issues with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.

It is not clear whether my bank requires a lease extension. I have called my Winnersh bank branch on various occasions and was reassured it wasn't an issue and they would lend. My Winnersh conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called and was told they would not lend based on their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I have no idea who is right.

As long as the property lawyer is on the bank panel, they must adhere to the CML Handbook provisions for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company 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.

Having digested plenty of mortgage guides, I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Winnersh solicitor - who is on the Lloyds conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?

Lloyds will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Lloyds will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your property lawyer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Winnersh postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Lloyds, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Winnersh.

I am buying my first flat in Winnersh with a mortgage from Chelsea Building Society. The sellers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The house builders rep advised me not to tell my solicitor about this extras as it would impact my mortgage with the lender. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder 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 need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor for purchase conveyancing in Winnersh. I happened to stumble upon a site which appears to be the perfect solution If it is possible to get all the legals completed via email that would be ideal. Do I need to be wary? What are the potential pitfalls?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

Helen (my wife) and I may need to rent out our Winnersh garden flat for a while due to a new job. We instructed a Winnersh conveyancing firm in 2004 but they have closed and we did not have the foresight to seek any guidance as to whether the lease allows us to sublet. How do we find out?

The lease governs the relationship between the landlord and you the leaseholder; specifically, it will indicate if subletting is not allowed, or permitted but only subject to certain caveats. The accepted inference is that if the lease contains no specific ban or restriction, subletting is allowed. The majority of leases in Winnersh do not prevent strict prohibition on subletting – such a clause would undoubtedly devalue the flat. Instead, there is usually simply a requirement that the owner notifies the freeholder, possibly sending a duplicate of the sublease.

I am the registered owner of a 1 bedroom flat in Winnersh, conveyancing having been completed February 2007. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Comparable properties in Winnersh with a long lease are worth £207,000. The ground rent is £60 invoiced every year. The lease ends on 21st October 2081

With 57 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to range between £28,500 and £33,000 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be other concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.