With any luck I will purchase a home in Somerstown. My neighbour suggested that my solicitor must carry out a Chancel Search. Is this right?

The case of Aston has prompted almost every conveyancing solicitor in Somerstown to order chancel searches. Indemnity policies can be arranged if chancel liability is likely to be enforced. Your conveyancing lawyer should provide more details. Church of England properties in Somerstown where chancel liability may apply include parish data base.

I have justbecome aware that Action Conveyancing have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Somerstown for a purchase of a freehold house 18 months ago. How can I be sure that the property is in my name in the name of the previous owner?

The easiest way to check if the premises is in your name, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Somerstown conveyancing specialists.

i am buying a new build house in Somerstown benefiting from help to buy. The sellers would not move on the price so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The property agent told me not inform my lawyer about this side-deal as it could impact my loan 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.