My friend suggested that if I am purchasing in Didcot I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?
A search of this type is occasionally included in the estimate for your Didcot conveyancing searches. It is not a small report of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out important information about Didcot around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime statistics, Local Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information concerning Didcot.
How does conveyancing in Didcot differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Didcot contact us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is constructed. This is because builders in Didcot usually purchase the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Didcot or who has acted in the same development.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £195,000 and identified one near me in Didcot I like with amenity areas and station nearby, however it's only got 61 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Didcot for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?
Should you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease will likely be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.
My husband and I are first time buyers - agreed a price, yet the agent informed us that the vendor will only move forward if we use the agent's preferred solicitors as they need a ‘quick sale’. We would rather use a local conveyancer accustomed to conveyancing in Didcot
It is improbable the owners are driving this. Should the seller want ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a motivated buyer is counter productive. Speak to the owners direct and explain that (a)you are genuine purchasers (b)you are ready to go, with finances in place © you are unencumbered (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you intend to appoint your own,trusted Didcot conveyancing solicitors - not the ones that will earn the negotiator at the agency a kickback or hit his conveyancing figures set by corporate headquarters.
I’m about to sell my basement apartment in Didcot. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed, but I have recently had a quarterly service charge invoice – what should I do?
The sensible thing to do is discharge the service charge as usual as all ground rent and service invoices should be allotted as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you will be reimbursed by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.
Didcot Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing
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The best form of lease arrangement is if the freehold reversion is owned by the leaseholders. In this arrangement the tenants have control and even though a managing agent is often employed where the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants. In the main the outlay for major works are not incorporated into the service charges, although a few managing agents in Didcot obliged leasehold owners to contribute towards a reserve fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for larger works. You should want to find out as much as possible regarding the managing agents as they can either make life much simpler or problematic. As the owner of a leasehold property you will be at the mercy of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to every day issues such as the tidiness of the communal areas. Enquire of prospective neighbours what they think of them. On a final note, investigate as to the dates that you are obliged pay the maintenance charge to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money.
My parents are unable to locate their Didcot land registry title on the online search facility. They have a vague recollection back in the 70’s when they bought the house there were complications regarding Didcot not being recognised in some systems.
The vast majority of residences in Didcot should appear. Have you endevoured to search with just the postcode. Ordinarily it will mention all the residences inside that postcode. Assuming the property is recorded it will show up with a title number. If they bought back in the 70’s it's conceivable it may be unregistered. The address may still be revealed but with the title number identified as 'na'. In this scenario you will need to find the original title documentation which might be with your parent’s lender.