I am need of leasehold conveyancing for an apartment in a fairly new development (five years old) in Harleston. 95% of the appartments have already been sold. Do I need carry out the neighbourhood searches for my conveyancing in Harleston?
Where you are obtaining a mortgage, your lender will require some (many) of the searches so you'll have no choice. If not, then Harleston conveyancing searches are optional. No doubt your conveyancer, will 'advise', perhaps in the strongest possible terms, that you should have the searches done, but he or she has a professional duty to do this. One thing to bear in mind; if you are likely to sell the house one day, it may be of interest to your future buyer what the searches contain. Sometimes houses with no practical issues can still throw up adverse search results. But if you choose to instruct your lawyer to proceed without searches then your lawyer will have to follow your instructions or you will need to switch to another solicitor for your conveyancing in Harleston.
I have Fifty Six years unexpired on my lease and require a lease extension for my apartment in Harleston. 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 obtaining 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 18/3/2025 the requirements read as follows :
What is the difference between a licensed conveyancer and conveyancing solicitor in Harleston
There are many recorded licenced Conveyancers in Harleston and Solicitor partnerships in Harleston who can assist with your conveyancing It is important to make clear that both are supervised by regulatory bodies with both specialising in the legal aspects of the home buying process. They may both also handle other property legal work such as remortgage conveyancing, enfranchisement and transfer of equity conveyancing.
Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Harleston. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. How do I make a complaint?
All banks and building societies have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. We understand that complaints to a lender are resolved very quickly. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.
I can not fathom if my lender requires a lease extension. I have called into my local Harleston bank branch on various occasions and was told it wasn't a problem and they would lend. My Harleston conveyancing solicitor - who is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel- telephoned to say that they will not lend based on their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. I have no idea who is right.
The conveyancing practitioner has to comply with the CML Handbook Part 2 specifications for your bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the mortgage company to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
I used Stirling Law several years ago for my conveyancing in Harleston. I now require my file however the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?
Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing 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 Harleston of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
I'm purchasing my first flat in Harleston with a loan from Accord Mortgages Ltd. The builders refused to reduce the amount so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The sale representative advised me not disclose to my solicitor about this side-deal as it could impact my mortgage with the bank. Is this normal?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
How much will conveyancing in Harleston cost?
The amount you are charged for Harleston conveyancing fees are likely to be calculated at:
- a set amount; or
- on a time spent basis (i.e. the time spent on the particular case).
These days very few Harleston conveyancing solicitors invoice by the clock