My best friend’s dad is a conveyancing practitioner. I expect that I can be offered preferential pricing for conveyancing, but if not, what level of fees should I be expecting for conveyancing in Belper?

It’s a good idea to seek 3 or more like-for-like conveyancing quotes. Do use our comparison tool on this page. You will notice that estimates seem to be different but the service one can expect are distinct between property lawyers as is the case with most professions.

Why is leasehold purchase conveyancing in Belper is more expensive?

Belper leasehold properties involve far more paperwork than a freehold purchase, and therefore takes more time to examine and advise upon.Conveyancing will involve the lease having to be checked which is usually a lengthy document, queries raised to ensure that the covenants and conditions have been observed. If it is a flat there will be a management company in existence and the accounts of this will need to be checked and enquiries raised to ensure it is operating efficiently and that all monies due have been paid by the Seller to the company and if not ensuring that money is paid up to date or the appropriate undertakings obtained.

My mortgage company has recommended solicitors on their panel based in Belper but I would rather use a conveyancing lawyer in Belper local to me. Can you assist?

It is by no means the case that all Belper conveyancing practices are listed all banks conveyancing panel. Do make the most of the above search tool to locate a Belper conveyancing solicitor on the on the bank panel.

My relative advised me that where I am buying in Belper I should ask my conveyancer to perform a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?

A search of this type is sometimes quoted for as part of the standard Belper conveyancing searches. It is not a small report of more than thirty pages, listing and detailing important information about Belper around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Belper Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime details, Belper Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information regarding Belper.

I am attracted to a couple of maisonettes in Belper both have approximately forty five years remaining on the lease term. Do I need to be concerned?

There are no two ways about it. A leasehold flat in Belper is a deteriorating asset as a result of the reducing lease term. The closer the lease gets to its expiry date, the more it adversely affects the salability of the property. For most buyers and banks, leases with less than 75 years become less and less marketable. On a more positive note, leaseholders can extend their leases by serving a Section 42 Notice. One stipulation is that they must have owned the property for two years (unlike a Section 13 notice for purchasing the freehold, when leaseholders can participate from day one of ownership). When successful, they will have the right to an extension of 90 years to the current term and ground rent is effectively reduced to zero. Before moving forward with a purchase of a residence with a short lease term remaining you should talk to a solicitor specialising in lease extensions and leasehold enfranchisement. We are are happy to put you in touch with Belper conveyancing experts who will explain the options available to you during an initial telephone conversation free of charge. More often than not it is possible to negotiate informally with the freeholder to extend the lease. They may agree to a smaller lump sum and an increase in the ground rent, but to shorter extension terms in return. You need to ensure that the agreed terms represent good long-term value compared with the standard benefits of the Section 42 Notice and that onerous clauses are not inserted into any redrafting of the lease.

I am the registered owner of a basement flat in Belper, conveyancing having been completed half a dozen years ago. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Belper with a long lease are worth £255,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 charged once a year. The lease ceases on 21st October 2096

You have 73 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to be between £8,600 and £9,800 plus costs.

The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide a more accurate figure without more detailed due diligence. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.