I instructed a Aldershot based firm for our conveyancing in Aldershot recently. After carefully reading the Terms it is apparent thatI am on the hook for fees even if the dealfalls through. Should I ditch them and appoint a web based conveyancing company who offer no-sale-no-fee conveyancing in Aldershot?
Generally there is a concession along the lines that if "No Sale No Fee" is advertised then the conveyancing charges will tend to be be uplifted to neutralise the transactions that fail to complete. You should be mindful that such schemes generally do not cover expenditure for instance Aldershot conveyancing search fees.
It is 10 years ago since I acquired my house in Aldershot. Conveyancing solicitors have recently been instructed on the sale but I am unable to track down my deeds. Is this a major issue?
Don’t worry too much. Firstly the deeds may be kept by your lender or they may be in the possession of the conveyancers who acted in the purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the land will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you own the property by your conveyancing lawyers acquiring up to date copy of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Aldershot involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is not registered it is more tricky but is resolvable.
I used Arc property Solicitors a few years past for my conveyancing in Aldershot. Now, I need my documents but the law firm has closed. What do I do?
Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Aldershot of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
I was advised by a couple of local property agents in Aldershot to choose a solicitor on your site. Is there a financial incentive for Estate Agents to offer your services rather than alternative conveyancing organisations?
We refuse to offer any commission for sending work our way. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as a client could think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not getting any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.
I own a leasehold house in Aldershot. Conveyancing and Leeds Building Society mortgage went though with no issue. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1994. The conveyancing solicitor in Aldershot who acted for me is not around. Do I pay?
First contact the Land Registry to be sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to instruct a Aldershot conveyancing lawyer to do this as it can be done on-line for a few pound. You should note that regardless, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.
Aldershot Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should ask before buying
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Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge payments? The majority of Aldershot leasehold properties will incur a service charge for the upkeep of the block levied by the landlord. If you buy the apartment you will have to pay this contribution, normally periodically throughout the year. This may be anything from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large communal grounds. There will also be a rentcharge to be met annual, this is usually not a significant sum, say around £50-£100 but you need to enquire it because on occasion it can be prohibitively expensive. How is the lease structured?
Builders have suggested I use a property lawyer and I've sought a quote from them. They are almost £250 cheaper than my local Aldershot property lawyer. Should I use them?
Builders frequently have lists of conveyancing practitioners who expedite matters and who know the seller’s documentation and property lawyer. Plenty of developers offer an inducement to use their approved property lawyer for this reason, any increased charges can be avoided and a developer will not put forward a conveyancing warehouse and run the risk of having the transaction stall when they require an exchange in 28 days. A counter-argument for not agreeing to use the suggested property lawyer is that they may be hesitant to 'push' your interests at the risk of alienating the sellers. Where you have concerns that this may be the case you should remain with your local Aldershot conveyancer.