Me and my fiance are purchasing a 1 bedroom apartment in Chessington with a mortgage. We have a Chessington conveyancer, but the mortgage company says she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the mortgage company panel firms or retain our Chessington lawyer and pay for one of their panel ones to act for them. This feels very unfair; are we not able to demand that the mortgage company use our Chessington conveyancer ?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your Chessington conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Chessington is more expensive?
The conveyancing costs on a leasehold property in Chessington is often greater when contrasted to a freehold property. This is due to the supplemental work required in liaising with the freeholder and management company to obtain information about whether the rent and service charges have been paid and whether there are any major works due in the near future on repairs or maintenance of the building.
I have 71 years remaining on my lease and need a lease extension for my apartment in Chessington. Conveyancing solicitors on the Virgin panel can deal with such extensions correct?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 9/1/2021 the requirements read as follows :
I understand that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Do I require chancel insurance when buying a house in Chessington? or Apparently there is an ancient law that could mean that owners of property residing in a parish church boundary may be liable to pay for maintenance towards the chancel in proximity to the church. Is this suitable for conveyancing in Chessington?
Unless a prior acquisition of the house completed after 12 October 2013 you may assume that conveyancing practitioners conducting conveyancing in Chessington to continue to propose a a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.
My wife and I own a renovated Georgian house in Chessington. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Britannia. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw two entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same property. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??
You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Chessington and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also question the position with the conveyancing solicitor who carried out the work.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Chessington is the location of the property. What do you suggest?
Flying freeholds in Chessington are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Chessington you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Chessington may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.