AssumingI was to buy a freehold propertyin Chorlton mortgage fee and dispense with a survey and no local authority searches how much could I expect to have to pay for conveyancing in Chorlton?

Any savings you would gain will be limited to the costs for searches. The is obliged to do the vast majority of work - money laundering, correspond with the vendors , SDLT return, register the property etc. A slight saving might be made by not having to register a charge however it will not be significant.

In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Chorlton? Is this really warranted?

Chorlton conveyancing solicitors and indeed property lawyers throughout the UK have a duty under money laundering regulations to check the ID of any client with a view to ensure that clients are who they say they are.

Conveyancing clients are required to produce two forms of certified identification; proof of ID (typically a Passport or Driving Licence) and proof of address (typically a Bank Statement less than 3 months old).

Evidence of source of monies is also required under the money laundering laws as conveyancers are mandated to investigate that the monies you are using to purchase a property (be it the exchange deposit or the full purchase monies if you are buying without a mortgage) has originated from legitimate source (such as employment savings) and is not the proceeds of criminal behaviour.

I'm buying my first flat in Chorlton with a mortgage from . The developers would not move on the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of extras instead. The estate agent told me not reveal to my conveyancer about this deal as it may affect my mortgage with . Is this normal?.

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.

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £235,500 and identified one near me in Chorlton I like with a park and transport links nearby, however it's only got 52 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Chorlton suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a short lease?

Should you need a home loan that many years will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you could ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.

Am I better off to go with a Chorlton conveyancing solicitor who is local to the property I am buying? I have an old university friend who can execute the legal work however his firm is located 300miles drive away.

The benefit of a local Chorlton conveyancing firm is that you can attend the office to execute paperwork, hand in your ID and apply pressure on them where appropriate. They will also have local insight which is a bonus. That being said it's more important to get someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If other friends have used your friend and the majority were impressed that should trump using an unfamiliar Chorlton conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being Chorlton based.