My husband and I are buying a new build apartment in Victoria Dock and my solicitor is telling me that she is duty bound to the lender to reveal incentives from the developer. I am under pressure to sign contracts and I don't want to prolong the conveyancing. is my lawyer playing by the book?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your . A precondition to being on a lender panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

I have a decision in principle. The bank mentioned the mortgage came with free conveyancing. Is the implication that I have to use their panel solicitor as I would much rather instruct a Victoria Dock based conveyancing firm?

Do check but the chances are that allocate you one of their panel solicitors if you accept the "fee-free" incentive. Call the mortgage company and determine if they make available a monetary alternative. It is not unheard for a lender to give a £250 cashback as an alternative in which case that money can go towards your preferred conveyancing solicitor in Victoria Dock.

I have been told that property searches are the primary reason for hinderance in Victoria Dock conveyancing transactions. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released determinations of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature amongst the top 10 causes of hindrances during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are not likely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Victoria Dock.

I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing solicitor in Victoria Dock for my sale. Is it possible to check a solicitor's complaints history with the legal regulator?

Members of the public can read documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations arising from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For records about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors record, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For callers outside the UK, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA sometimes recorded call for training reasons.

My partner is purchasing a basement flat in Victoria Dock. He was given a quote by the connected to the selling agents and it came to £1245 . It was seven years ago I sold and purchased a property and the bill was £600. Have charges really increased to that extent?

What does the conveyancing estimate include? Is it just for the legal fees, or what you will be paying in total (for example Victoria Dock searches, land registry fees, etc)