We are expecting a mortgage offer soon. The lender mentioned the home loan came with free conveyancing. Does this mean I have to appoint their panel lawyer as I would much rather appoint a Victoria based conveyancing firm?
You should check but the chances are that appoint one of their panel lawyers where you accept the "fee-free" deal. Speak to the lender to determine if they offer you a cash alternative. Some mortgage companies have previously offered a £250 cashback as a further option in which case you could put that amount towards the cost for your conveyancing solicitor in Victoria.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Victoria. I have a mortgage agreed with Coventry BS. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Coventry BS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel.
I have a mortgage with HSBC for my property in Victoria. Conveyancing has been completed 12 months ago. Should I wish to rent out my property and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a BTL mortgage or inform HSBC?
HSBC must be informed of your intention in advance of letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of HSBC’s mortgage conditions. It may be that HSBC will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact HSBC directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a HSBC conveyancing panel lawyer.
I was told three weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed to by Skipton. Is it usual for Skipton to only issue the offer once my solicitor in Victoria is approved on their conveyancing panel? Skipton have asked my solicitor to see a copy of their PI Insurance.
A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Skipton to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Skipton conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
About to purchase a new build flat in Victoria. 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 legal work.
Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Victoria
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Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? 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? Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease.
Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Victoria before retaining lawyers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. My surveyor has said that some mortgage companies may not give a loan on this type of property.
It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different instructions from Nationwide. If you contact us we can check via the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Victoria. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Victoria to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.
My brother has suggested that I instruct his conveyancers in Victoria. Do I take his guidance?
Much as we are happy to recommend a Victoria conveyancing lawyer the ideal way to select a conveyancing lawyer is to seek referrals from friends or relatives who have actually used the conveyancer that you are are thinking of instructing.
What advice can you give us when it comes to finding a Victoria conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?
If you are instructing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Victoria conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you speak with several firms including non Victoria conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions might be helpful:
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What are the legal fees for lease extension conveyancing?
Following months of correspondence we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Victoria. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?
Where there is a absentee landlord or where there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the relevant legislation you can apply to the LVT to judgment on the amount due.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Victoria flat is Flats 12A & 19, Evelyn Mansions Carlisle Place in June 2009. The Tribunal held that the price to be paid for the new lease of Flat 12A is £168,824, For the other flat the price was set at £169,110 This case was in relation to 2 flats. The unexpired term was 56 years.