A colleague recommended that if I am buying in Buckinghamshire I should ask my conveyancer to execute a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?
This is a search is occasionally included in the estimate for your Buckinghamshire conveyancing searches. It is a large report of about 40 pages, listing and detailing important information about Buckinghamshire around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Buckinghamshire Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime statistics, Buckinghamshire Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data about Buckinghamshire.
The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Buckinghamshire. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.
Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Buckinghamshire
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Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company?
I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £235,500 and found one close by in Buckinghamshire I like with amenity areas and railway links nearby, the downside is that it only has 61 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Buckinghamshire suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a lease with such few years left?
If you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease will likely be an issue. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you can request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.
Am I right to be wary about third parties that I am dealing with are suggesting a factory type conveyancing firm as opposed to a High Street Buckinghamshire conveyancing company?
As with lots of professional services, often recommendations from relatives can be worth their weight in gold. But there are numerous people with a vested interest in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and banks might all recommend conveyancers to choose. On occasion the solicitors might be known to one of the organisations as one of the best in their field, but occasionally there might be a financial incentive behind the endorsement. You are at liberty to select your preferred lawyer. You need to be aware that many lenders have an approved list of solicitors you have to use for the lender aspect of your conveyancing.
My partner has urged me to use his conveyancing solicitors in Buckinghamshire. Should I use them?
There are no two ways about it the best way to find a conveyancing practitioner is to seek feedback from friends or family who have actually previously instructed the firm that you are considering.
My wife and I have appointed a Buckinghamshire conveyancing solicitor for our home move (novice purchasers) and have picked up in the engagement letter that they are not regulated by the FCA. Should I be concerned or is that the norm with lawyer?
We can't see why they should be. Most solicitor don't lend money. You should check that they are governed by the SRA, who set strict conditions in place on monies held in their bank.