We are getting a further advance on our home loan from Nationwide as we want to conduct alterations to our house in Muswell Hill. Do we need to select a high street Muswell Hill solicitor on the Nationwide conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?

Nationwide don't usually instruct a member of their conveyancing panel to deal with the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Nationwide panel.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Muswell Hill off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Kent Reliance. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Kent Reliance, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel.

Clydesdale have agreed my home loan in principle, my bid on a apartment in Muswell Hill has been accepted, what happens next?

The estate agent will wish to know who your solicitors are (ensure that the lawyers are on the bank’s approved list). Call up Clydesdale or your broker and complete any outstanding documentation. Clydesdale will instruct a valuer who will get in contact with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once carried out (assuming no problems) it takes about a fortnight to get a mortgage offer. Clydesdale will send the offer to you and your conveyancers. The legal work will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing in Muswell Hill.

What will a local search reveal about the property I am buying in Muswell Hill?

Muswell Hill conveyancing often starts with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations for example Searches UK The local search is essential in every Muswell Hill conveyancing purchase; as long as you wish to avoid any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search will provide information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 topic sections.

I am buying a new build house in Muswell Hill benefiting from help to buy. The developers would not reduce the amount so I negotiated £7000 of additionals instead. The house builders rep told me not reveal to my conveyancer about the side-deal as it could affect my mortgage with the bank. 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.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in two weeks back in what was supposed to be a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Muswell Hill is the location of the property. Can you offer any opinion?

Flying freeholds in Muswell Hill are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Muswell Hill you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Muswell Hill may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

My wife and I have chosen a Muswell Hill conveyancing solicitor for our house purchase (first time buyers) and have picked up in the engagement letter that they are not regulated by the FCA. Am I right to be worried or is that standard with conveyancing practitioner?

We can't see why they should be. Most property lawyer don't lend money. They will be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, who set stringent conditions in place on funds deposited on client account.