My lender has suggested solicitors on their panel based in Lewes but I would rather instruct a conveyancing lawyer in Lewes local to me. Can you assist?

It is by no means the case that all Lewes conveyancing solicitors are on all banks conveyancing panel. Please make the most of our find an approved solicitor tool to identify a Lewes conveyancing solicitor on the on the lender panel.

Do I need to pay for insurance to address the risk of chancel repairs when acquiring a property in Lewes?

Unless a previous purchase of the property completed after 12 October 2013 you could assume that lawyers delivering conveyancing in Lewes to continue to propose a a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and identified one round the corner in Lewes I like with a park and transport links nearby, the downside is that it's only got 49 years on the lease. There is not much else in Lewes for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will be an issue. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this.

How can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my commercial offices in Lewes and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act gives security of tenure to business tenants, giving them the legal entitlement to apply to court for a new tenancy and remain in occupation when the lease comes to an end. There are certain specified grounds where a landlord can refrain from granting a lease renewal and the rules are complex. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing firms who use the act to your advantage and handle your commercial conveyancing in Lewes

I am employed by a busy estate agent office in Lewes where we see a number of flat sales derailed due to leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have been given inconsistent advice from local Lewes conveyancing solicitors. Could you clarify whether the owner of a flat can start the lease extension process for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the proposed purchaser can avoid having to sit tight for 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done before, or simultaneously with completion of the disposal of the property.

Alternatively, it may be possible to extend the lease informally by agreement with the landlord either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.

I acquired a basement flat in Lewes, conveyancing was carried out 9 years ago. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Corresponding properties in Lewes with an extended lease are worth £265,000. The ground rent is £50 charged once a year. The lease runs out on 21st October 2100

With 76 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £8,600 and £9,800 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs without more comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.