I have given 8 weeks notice to my existing landlord and must be out of my rented apartment in Yeovil by 20/12/2024. Conveyancing on my purchase has just started. Is it possible to complete in a couple of weeks as don't want to have to move into short term accommodation?

Generally one should not provide notice on a rental unless your lawyer suggests that you should. If you have not already done so, contact to your lawyer and request that they seek the assistance the owners side, try to get a realistic time scale from them that everyone will look towards

I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Yeovil. My lender is Bank of Ireland

Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 8/11/2024, the requirements read as follows :

I used Arc property Solicitors several years ago for my conveyancing in Yeovil. Now, I need my documents however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Yeovil of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I am purchasing my first flat in Yeovil with a loan from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. The developers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated £7000 of fixtures and fittings instead. The property agent advised me not reveal to my solicitor about this side-deal as it would adversely affect my mortgage with Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. 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.

Am I best advised to appoint a Yeovil conveyancing solicitor based in the vicinity that I am buying? An old friend can conduct the legal formalities however her office is 300kilometers drive away.

The benefit of a high street Yeovil conveyancing firm is that you can pop in to execute paperwork, deliver your identification documents and pester them where appropriate. They will also have local insight which is a benefit. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust used your friend and they were impressed that must trump using an unfamiliar Yeovil conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being based in the area.