How up to date is your search tool for Burnage conveyancing solicitors on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel? Do Virgin Money send you an updated list?

Burnage conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Virgin Money directly.

Various web forums that I have come across warn that are the primary cause of delay in Burnage house deals. Is that correct?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the determinations of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the most frequent causes of hindrances in the conveyancing process. Searches are unlikely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Burnage.

How does conveyancing in Burnage differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build residence in Burnage come to us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is completed. This is because new home sellers in Burnage usually acquire 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 conveyancers 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 used to new build conveyancing in Burnage or who has acted in the same development.

I've recently bought a leasehold flat in Burnage. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before my ownership?

In a situation 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. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure 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).

Burnage Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries before buying

Who is in charge of the block? In the main the cost for major works are not incorporated into the service charges, although a few managing agents in Burnage obliged leasehold owners to contribute towards a reserve fund created for the specific purpose of building a fund for larger repairs or maintenance. Please note that where the lease has no more than eighty years it will impact the marketability of the apartment. Check with your bank that they are willing to go ahead with the loan given the lease term. A short lease means that you will most likely need a lease extension at some point and it is worth finding out how much this would cost. Remember, in most cases you would be required to have been the owner of the property for two years before you are eligible to extend the lease.

How easy is it to change a solicitor as I need to find a Burnage based firm who is on the lender conveyancing panel. How simple is it to change conveyancer?

In the event that you have not formally instructed a solicitor to commence the conveyancing and at this stage simply received quotes, you're perfectly free to choose a different solicitor to carry out your work for you. The best way is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor or conveyancer in Burnage that you're thinking of instructing.