Just contacted my conveyancing lawyer in Messingham who completed the legal work 18 months ago asking for a conveyancing costs illustration based on the same type of house sale & purchase (a leasehold residence and a freehold premises) of similar values with a home loan from National Westminster Bank. I am now being quoted double. Stick with what I know or do I try and find an alternative conveyancer?
The estimate does seem a little overpriced. If you you were to look around you may be able to shave off some of the cost by perhaps a hundred pounds. That being said, providing that you were happy with the service the firm gave you couldlive to regret opting for an a cheaper lawyer. Don't forget to enquire that the firm can represent National Westminster Bank. You can make use of our search tool to select a Messingham conveyancing firm on the National Westminster Bank approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Messingham.
Will lawyers request money on account when it comes to conveyancing in Messingham?
If you are buying a property in Messingham your lawyer will request that you put them with funds to cover the search fees. This will be the total of the cost of the Local Authority Search. When the down payment is as part of the total price then this will be asked for immediately prior to contracts are exchanged. The closing balance that is due should be transferred shortly before completion.
I am about to put an offer on a leasehold apartment in Messingham. The selling agents advise that it is normal for flats in Messingham to have less than 75 years remaining. I am taking out a mortgage with Platform. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 70 years to go.
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. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 12/6/2025 the requirements read as follows :
Me and my brother own a 4 bedroom Victorian house in Messingham. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and The Royal Bank of Scotland. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the matching property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
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 owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Messingham and other locations in 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 purchasers. You can also check the position with the conveyancing solicitor who carried out the work.
What is different about your site and other internet conveyancing brokers when it comes to conveyancing in Messingham?
At this site obtain a conveyancing quote from a Solicitor or Licensed Conveyancer that has a full understanding of the issues of your conveyancing in Messingham. As opposed to estate agents and brokerage sites we do not operate referral arrangements with solicitors. A large number of agents and online brokers 'recommend' solicitors that pays the highest commission, not the best value conveyancing in Messingham
I've recently bought a leasehold property in Messingham. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before my ownership?
Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
I purchased a leasehold flat in Messingham, conveyancing having been completed half a dozen years ago. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Comparable flats in Messingham with over 90 years remaining are worth £185,000. The ground rent is £65 invoiced annually. The lease ceases on 21st October 2086
With just 61 years unexpired we estimate the premium for your lease extension to range between £18,100 and £20,800 plus legals.
The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more detailed due diligence. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.