Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Alcester. My lender is Bank of Ireland

Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 24/11/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Should our solicitor be raising enquiries regarding flooding as part of the conveyancing in Alcester.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for solicitors conducting conveyancing in Alcester. There are those who purchase a property in Alcester, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical destruction, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, suitable building insurance, or sell the premises. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.

Conveyancers are not best placed to give advice on flood risk, however there are a various searches that can be initiated by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which should figure out the risks in Alcester. The standard completed inquiry forms supplied to a buyer’s lawyer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) includes a standard question of the seller to find out if the premises has suffered from flooding. If flooding has previously occurred and is not revealed by the seller, then a buyer could bring a compensation claim stemming from an inaccurate response. The purchaser’s lawyers will also commission an enviro report. This will indicate whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, additional investigations should be initiated.

I need to retain a conveyancing solicitor for freehold conveyancing in Alcester. I have land on a web site which seems to have the perfect solution If it is possible to get all this stuff completed via email that would be ideal. Do I need to be concerned? What should out be looking out for?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

I am employed by a busy estate agency in Alcester where we have witnessed a number of flat sales put at risk as a result of short leases. I have been given contradictory information from local Alcester conveyancing solicitors. Could you confirm whether the vendor of a flat can start the lease extension process for the buyer?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to commence the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. The benefit of this is that the proposed purchaser need not have to wait 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done prior to, or simultaneously with completion of the disposal of the property.

An alternative approach is to agree the lease extension with the freeholder 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 am the registered owner of a garden flat in Alcester, conveyancing was carried out 9 years ago. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Equivalent flats in Alcester with an extended lease are worth £222,000. The ground rent is £50 levied per year. The lease expires on 21st October 2096

You have 71 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to span between £9,500 and £11,000 as well as professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on the actual costs without more detailed investigations. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.

What are the distinct benefits to selecting a high street conveyancing practitioner in Alcester

Many purchasers and sellers in Alcester select a local property lawyer so that they can pop into the lawyer’s offices in the event that they have questions, and to collect documents rather than run the risk of depending on the post.

There is a distinct advantage when using a lawyer local to the property you are purchasing, due to the knowledge of the area and potential local concerns - yet this is moot. The majority of conveyancers are now over the web and could be any place in the world.