Completed the sale of my flat in Ash last April but the buyer keeps Skype messaging me to say their conveyancer is waiting to hear from mine. What should have happened now that I have sold?

Following your house sale your lawyer should send the transfer deeds and all additional paperwork to the buyer’s solicitors. If applicable, your solicitor should also confirm that the legal charge in favour of the lender has been redeemed to the purchasers lawyers. There are no post completion tasks peculiar conveyancing in Ash.

My partner and I are selling our home in Ash and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being constructed land that was not decontaminated. Any local conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the buyers used an internet conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Ash. Having lived in Ash for 5 years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to seek clarification that there is no issue.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer already. Are they able to advise? You should enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same sickness)

How does conveyancing in Ash differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Ash approach us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is built. This is because house builders in Ash typically acquire the site, 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 used to new build conveyancing in Ash or who has acted in the same development.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one round the corner in Ash I like with a park and station in the vicinity, however it only has 61 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Ash for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a short lease?

Should you need a home loan the shortness of the lease will likely be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the property for at least 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.

Last May I purchased a leasehold flat in Ash. Am I liable to pay service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

Leasehold Conveyancing in Ash - Sample of Queries Prior to Purchasing

Many Ash leasehold properties will be liable to pay a service bill for the upkeep of the block invoiced on behalf of the landlord. If you acquire the apartment you will have to pay this liability, normally quarterly during the year. This could vary from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large communal areas. In all probability there will be a ground rent to be met annual, normally this is not a significant sum, say around £25-£75 but you need to enquire as on occasion it can be surprisingly expensive. What is the length of the lease? It is important to be aware if redecorating or some other significant cost is anticipated to be shared by the leaseholders and could well dramatically impact the level of the maintenance costs or necessitate a specific invoice.