I am about to complete on the purchase of a house in Bartley Green but as a consequence of damage from the recent storms I have was able negotiate compensation from the owner of £3k in the form of a reduction in the price. I had intended this to be addressed as part of the conveyancing process but Nottingham are not allowing this. Should they have been involved?

The property lawyer being on a Nottingham approved list is obliged to inform Nottingham of any amendments to the sale price. If you were to refuse your conveyancing practitioner to report the reduction to Nottingham then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, Nottingham and you would have to appoint a new lawyer for your conveyancing in Bartley Green.

My father pointed out to me me that in purchasing a property in Bartley Green there could be various restrictions affecting the ability to carry out external alterations to a property. Is this right?

There are a number of properties in Bartley Green which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to carry out external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Bartley Green should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

Please help - my lawyer says that breach of easement insurance is necessary on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in Bartley Green?

The right level of breach of easement indemnity insurance depends on who your lender is. It would differ for example between Nationwide Building Society and Barnsley Building Society. Conveyancing lawyers as opposed to borrowers take out such policies.

It is not clear whether my lender obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called my Bartley Green building society branch on various occasions and was told it wasn't an issue and they would lend. My Bartley Green conveyancing solicitor - who is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel- called and was told they will not lend in accordance with their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?

Provided that the property lawyer is on the bank panel, she or he must comply with the CML Handbook specifications for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the bank 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 lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

My father has urged me to instruct his conveyancers in Bartley Green. Should I find my own solicitor?

There are no two ways about it the best way to find a conveyancing solicitor is to seek guidance from friends or relatives who have actually used the conveyancer you're contemplating using.

I've recently bought a leasehold property in Bartley Green. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element 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).

Leasehold Conveyancing in Bartley Green - Sample of Queries before buying

Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge payments? On the whole the outlay for major works tend not to be included within service charges, although some managing agents in Bartley Green obliged leasehold owners to pay into a reserve fund and this is used to offset against major works. Does this lease have more than 80 years unexpired?

What is the distinction between surveying and conveyancing in Bartley Green?

Conveyancing - in Bartley Green or elsewhere - is the legal term given to transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It therefore includes the investigation of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you’re intending to buy and will help you find out about the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you a powerful reason for negotiating the purchase price down or asking the seller to remedy the defects prior to you complete your move.