My wife and I are due to complete on the purchase of a house in Lincoln but as a result of wreckage from some water damage at the property I have was able negotiate compensation from the owner of £3k in the form of a reduction in the price. This was going to be addressed as part of amending the contract but Skipton are not allowing this. Why were they approached?

Your conveyancing practitioner that is on a Skipton approved list is duty bound to advise Skipton of any amendments to the purchase price. If you prohibit your conveyancer to report the reduction to Skipton then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, Skipton and you would have to appoint a new property lawyer for your conveyancing in Lincoln.

Will commercial conveyancing searches disclose proposed roadworks that may impact a commercial site in Lincoln?

Its becoming the norm that commercial conveyancing solicitors in Lincoln will execute a SiteSolutions Highways report as it dramatically cuts the time that conveyancers spend in researching accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Lincoln. The search result provides definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Lincoln.

For every commercial conveyancing transaction in Lincoln it is crucial to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. Failure to identify developments where adoption procedures have not been addressed adequately could cause delays to Lincoln commercial conveyancing deals as well as present a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not ordered for residential conveyancing in Lincoln.

I moved into my house on 1 January and the transaction details is yet to be on the land registry website. Should I be concerned? My conveyancing solicitor in Lincoln said it should be concluded in a couple of weeks. Are properties in Lincoln particularly slow to register?

There is nothing unique about conveyancing in Lincoln registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timescales can differ subject to who lodges the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry communicate with any interested parties. Currently approximately 80% of such applications are fully addressed within 12 days but occasionally there can be longer delays. Historically registration occurs after the new owner has moved in to the property therefore an expedited registration is not always top priority yet where it is urgent that the the registration takes place urgently then you or your lawyers could communicate with the Registry to express the reasoning for an expedited registration.

Should I appoint a Lincoln conveyancing lawyer in close proximity to the house I am buying? We have a good friend who can execute the legal work however they are based a couple of hundredkilometers away.

The benefit of a high street Lincoln conveyancing practice is that you can visit the firm to execute paperwork, hand in your ID and apply pressure on them if necessary. Having local Lincoln know how is a benefit. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If other friends have used your friend and in the main were happy that should surpass using an unfamiliar Lincoln conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being round the corner.

When it comes to my conveyancing in Lincoln should I be paying VAT on the following: (1) Land reg fee on purchase (2) Pre - completion search fee (3) SDLT E submission on purchase (4) Bank TT fee

(1) Land reg fee on purchase - No (2) Pre - completion search fees -No, (such conveyancing searches are HMLR ones and means £4 and possibly £2 bankruptcy per name on your mortgage) (3) SDLT E submission on your purchase - There is no VAT on Stamp Duty. However if the firm is charging a stamp duty e-submission fee as part of their services - some Lincoln conveyancers do - that will incur VAT(4) Bank transfer fee - Yes it is for the lawyer's time in submitting the funds this way.