I am need of leasehold conveyancing for a flat in a relatively new development (6 years old) in Chantry. 95% of the flats are already sold. Do I need carry out the local searches as part of conveyancing in Chantry?

You would be putting yourself at risk in refusing to carrying out Chantry conveyancing searches. Without searches you have no clarity over flooding, environmental etc which may mean you walk away due to potential problems down the line. If you are buying mortgage free there is no legal necessity to have them, but we would strongly advise in the strongest possible terms that you have them. Where time pressures and cost are top of your issues you should consider with your conveyancer about the options such as contingency insurance available to you

I purchased a freehold residence in Chantry but still invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Chantry and has limited impact for conveyancing in Chantry but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of fresh rentcharges post 1977.

Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be extinguished.

I just bought a flat at auction in Chantry. Conveyancing is needed. What happens now?

Given that you have now legally bound yourself to purchase you will need to appoint a conveyancing lawyer quickly as you are facing a pending a drop dead date to complete the deal. An auction property will ordinarily have an associated legal set of papers. This will likely include the copy title deeds, local authority and drainage searches. In the case of leasehold premises the conveyancing pack may include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing documentation pertinent to a leasehold property. You need to give this to the lawyer working for you at the earliest opportunity. Do make sure that your finances are in order to complete the transaction on the set completion date.

Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with TSB. Chantry conveyancing lawyers have been chosen. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from TSB?

Some lenders take longer than others. Have TSB conducted the valuation? Have you advised TSB as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the TSB conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Chantry. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. UBS have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?

Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with UBS your lawyer must comply with the formal instructions outlined in Part 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for UBS. The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and property lawyers are required to report to UBS where a lease does not meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not isolated to Chantry.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up as part of conveyancing in Chantry?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Chantry. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

How does conveyancing in Chantry differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Chantry approach us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is finished. This is because developers in Chantry tend to purchase 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 property lawyers 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Chantry or who has acted in the same development.