I am selling my apartment in Alfriston and the EA has just e-mailed to say that the buyers are changing their law firm. The excuse is that the lender will only work with property lawyers on their approved list. Why would a major mortgage company only work with specific law firms rather the firm that they want to select for their conveyancing in Alfriston ?

UK lenders have always had an approved set of law firms that can act for them, but in the past few years big names such as Nationwide, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have worked with them for many years.

Mortgage companies point to the increase in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to maintain. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society claims that it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms are unaware that they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your purchasers are unlikely to have any impact on this.

Can the conveyancing solicitors listed on your site perform right to buy conveyancing in Alfriston?

We do have a variety of conveyancing solicitors who can conduct right to buy transactions Please e-mail the lawyers listed to get a conveyancing quote.

What is the first thing I need to know about purchase conveyancing in Alfriston?

Not many law firms shout this from the rooftops but conveyancing in Alfriston or throughout East Sussex is often a confrontational process. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there exists an abundance of opportunity for confrontation between you and others involved in the ownership transfer. For example, the seller, property agent and on occasion your lender. Selecting a solicitor for your conveyancing in Alfriston is a critical decision as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE person in the transaction whose responsibility is to act in your best interests and to protect you.

Sometimes a potential adversary may try and convince you that it is in your interests to do things their way. For instance, the property agent may claim to be helping by claiming that your lawyer is slow. Or your financial adviser may advise you to do something that is against your solicitors guidance. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties in the conveyancing process.

I'm purchasing a new build house in Alfriston with the aid of help to buy. The sellers would not move on the price so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The property agent suggested that I not to tell my lawyer about the side-deal as it may affect my loan with Halifax. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to be perfect, at a great figure which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently been informed that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Alfriston. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Alfriston are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area who can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Alfriston so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Alfriston conveyancing practitioner and check that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the landlord’spermission to conduct alterations. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is part of an estate. Your solicitor should appraise you on the various issues.

Alfriston Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

Plenty Alfriston leasehold flats will have a service charge for the upkeep of the block set by the freeholder. If you acquire the flat you will have to pay this liability, usually in instalments accross the year. This can vary from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large common areas. There will also be a ground rent to be met annual, normally this is not a exorbitant sum, say about £50-£100 but you need to enquire as occasionally it could be surprisingly expensive. This information is helpful as a) areas could result in problems in the building as the common areas may begin to deteriorate if repairs are not paid for b) if the leaseholders have a dispute with the running of the building you will wish to have full disclosure Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge liability?