It is 10 years ago since I acquired my house in Axminster. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been appointed on the sale but I can't locate my title deeds. Will this jeopardise the sale?

Don’t worry too much. Firstly there is a chance that the deeds will be kept by the lender or they could still be with the solicitor who handled your purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the title will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors procuring up to date copy of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Axminster involves registered property but in the rare situation where your home is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is not insurmountable.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on last month in what was supposed to be a quick, no chain conveyancing. Axminster is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Axminster are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Axminster you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Axminster may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

How does the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 impact my commercial offices in Axminster and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act affords security of tenure to business lessees, granting the right to apply to court for a new lease and remain in occupation at the end of the lease term. There are certain specified grounds that a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. Fees are different for commercial conveyancing. Axminster is one of our numerous areas of the UK in which our lawyers are located

In my capacity as executor for the estate of my father I am disposing of a residence in Newport but I am based in Axminster. My solicitor (approximately 200 kilometers from merequires that I sign a statutory declaration ahead of completion. Can you recommend a conveyancing lawyer in Axminster who can witness this legal document for me?

strictly speaking you are unlikely to be required to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or qualified solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are located in Axminster

I own a leasehold house in Axminster. Conveyancing and Alliance & Leicester mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the freehold. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1998. The conveyancing practitioner in Axminster who previously acted has now retired. Any advice?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is indeed the new freeholder. You do not need to incur the fees of a Axminster conveyancing solicitor to do this as it can be done on-line for a few pound. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

Axminster Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Queries before Purchasing

It is important to be aware if fixing the lift or some other major work is coming up to be shared by the leasehold owners and may well materially impact the level of the service costs or result in a one off invoice. It would be prudent to discover if the the lease includes any onerous restrictions in the lease. By way of example some leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Axminster. If you love the apartmentin Axminster yet your cat is not allowed to make the move with you then you will be presented with a hard choice. Most Axminster leasehold flats will be liable to pay a service charge for maintenance of the building set on behalf of the freeholder. Where you acquire the apartment you will have to meet this contribution, normally in instalments during the year. This may be anything from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large communal areas. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge to be met yearly, this is usually not a significant amount, say approximately £25-£75 but you need to check as on occasion it can be surprisingly expensive.