I was recommended to a solicitor who has given a fee calculation of £1350 for fixed fee conveyancing in Ascot. I am hoping to sell a purpose built property for £150,000. This appears over the top. Is it in excess of the norm for conveyancing in Ascot?

The quote is slightly on the expensive side. Where you are content to spend time scrutinising prices you may be able to decrease the fees marginally by perhaps £100 plus VAT. On the other hand, you maylive to rue choosing an an untested conveyancer. Don't forget to check that the firm can also act for your bank. Do employ our search tool to find a Ascot conveyancing firm on the lender’s member panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Ascot.

What can a local search tell me about the house my wife and I purchasing in Ascot?

Ascot conveyancing often commences with the submitting local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search organisations such as Xpress Legal The local search is essential in every Ascot conveyancing purchase; as long as you wish to avoid any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search will supply information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of thirteen subject areas.

Just bought a detached house in Ascot , how long should it take for the Land Registry to register my ownership? My Ascot conveyancing solicitor works at snail pace, so I want to check the land registry aspects are addressed.

There is nothing unique about conveyancing in Ascot registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timeframes can adjust subject to who lodges the application, whether it is in order and whether the Land registry communicate with any interested persons or bodies. As of today in the region of 80% of submission are fully dealt with in less than three weeks but some can be subject to extensive delays. Historically registration is effected once the buyer has moved in to the property thus an expedited registration is not usually top priority yet where there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your conveyancer could contact the land registry and explain the circumstances.

I decided to have a survey carried out on a property in Ascot in advance of instructing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold element to the property. Our surveyor has said that some mortgage companies will not grant a mortgage on this type of property.

It varies from the lender to lender. Lloyds has different requirements from Halifax. Should you wish to call us we can check with the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Ascot. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Ascot especially if they are acquainted with such properties in Ascot.

I am a negotiator for a busy estate agent office in Ascot where we see a few leasehold sales put at risk due to short leases. I have received conflicting advice from local Ascot conveyancing solicitors. Could you shed some light as to whether the owner of a flat can instigate the lease extension process for the buyer?

As long as the seller has owned the lease 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. This means that the proposed purchaser can avoid having to wait 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done before, or at the same time as completion of the disposal of the property.

Alternatively, it may be possible 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 purchaser.

Ascot Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

How is the lease structured? What is the length of the lease? Who is in charge of the block?