My son-in-law is purchasing a new build apartment in Melbourne with a mortgage from Coventry BS. His conveyancer has said that there is a delay in completing the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. What is this document - I have never come across this before?
The form is intended to provide information to the main parties involved in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the valuer when asked. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Coventry BS conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.
I have 7378 less than 75 years remaining on my lease and need a lease extension for my flat in Melbourne. Conveyancing solicitors on the Bank of Ireland panel can deal with such extensions right?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 13/11/2025 the requirements read as follows :
My conveyancer has informed me that lack of planning permission insurance is required on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in Melbourne?
The appropriate level of lack of planning permission indemnity insurance depends on who your lender is. It would differ for example between Santander and Coventry Building Society. Conveyancing practitioners as opposed to borrowers take out such policies.
Can you point me to a directory of Nationwide panel solicitors in Melbourne on the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Website?
Unfortunately not yet. There is no such tool on the CML or Building Society Association sites. Very few lenders make their panel listings viewable on the web. If you are in need of a Melbourne property lawyer on the Nationwide please use our tool.
We previously appointed solicitors based in Melbourne on the Coventry BS solicitor panel. They are now charging me an additional fee for the legal aspects of the Coventry BS mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by Coventry BS?
As unfair as it may appear, as long as it’s in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your conveyancing practitioner may levy a fee for this. The fee is not dictated by Coventry BS but by your Melbourne solicitor. Plenty of firms on the Coventry BS panel will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee but some practices include it on their overall fee.
I am looking for a ground for flat up to £305k and identified one close by in Melbourne I like with amenity areas and railway links in the vicinity, however it only has 52 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Melbourne in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a lease with such few years left?
Should you require a mortgage that many years may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for at least twenty four months you may request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this matter.
I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing solicitor in Melbourne for my home move. Is it possible to see a solicitor's complaints history with the profession’s regulator?
Members of the public may see published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations stemming from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For details about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's record, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. International callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA could recorded call for training reasons.
Is it true that a Melbourne conveyancing firm taken to court by clients for not carrying out the right conveyancing searches?
We are not aware of such a Melbourne conveyancing matter but according to a recent report, a couple buying a property in Cumbria successfully sued their conveyancer as a consequence of development permission to erect a wind farm failing to be picked up in conveyancing searches.
Where you are buying in Melbourne It is critical that your property lawyer conduct all Melbourne conveyancing searches necessary making sure that you have accurate and current information before acquiring a home in Melbourne.