My wife and I are getting closer to an exchange on a flat in Harlow and my mum and dad have transferred the ten percent deposit to my property lawyer. I am now told that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to make a notification to my mortgage company. Apparently, in also acting for the mortgage company he must inform them that the balance of the purchase price is not just from me. I disclosed to the mortgage company about my parents' contribution when I applied for the home loan, so is it really necessary for this now to hold matters up?

Your solicitor is obliged to check with mortgage company to make sure that they know that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own resources. The solicitor can only notify this to your bank if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.

Do I have to have a meeting at the offices of the solicitor to sign the legal charge? If so, I will instruct a firm who offer conveyancing in Harlow so that I can attend their offices if necessary.

Whereas this was necessary 12 years ago, most banks no longer require their conveyancing panel solicitor to witness the borrowers signature. It will still be necessary for you to hand over identification documents and there are still distinct advantages to choosing a locally based solicitor, in your case a conveyancing solicitor in Harlow.

I am purchasing my first flat in Harlow benefiting from help to buy. The sellers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The estate agent suggested that I not inform my conveyancer about the side-deal as it will adversely affect my mortgage with the lender. 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.

I am looking for a conveyancing practitioner in Harlow for my house move. Is there any facility to review a firm’s record with the profession’s regulator?

Members of the public can find documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from investigations started on or after 1 January 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For information Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, ring 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For non-uk callers, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator may monitor telephone calls for training reasons.

Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Harlow. Before diving in I require certainty as to the remaining lease term.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Harlow - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title. For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

I am the registered owner of a studio flat in Harlow, conveyancing formalities finalised 10 years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Corresponding properties in Harlow with an extended lease are worth £171,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 invoiced every year. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2105

You have 79 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £8,600 and £9,800 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs without more comprehensive due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.