Completed the sale of my flat in Berkshire last July but our buyer keeps texting daily to say their lawyer is waiting to hear from mine. What should my lawyer have done now that I have sold?
Following your house sale your lawyer is committed to deliver the transfer documentation and all supplemental paperwork to the purchaser's conveyancer. Where appropriate, your conveyancer should also send confirmation that the mortgage has been repaid to the buyers solicitors. There is unlikely to be post completion steps unique to conveyancing in Berkshire.
My wife and I purchased a semi-detached Edwardian house in Berkshire. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Santander. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You need to review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Berkshire and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also question the position with the conveyancing solicitor who conducted the purchase.
How does conveyancing in Berkshire differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Berkshire come to us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is completed. This is because new home sellers in Berkshire typically purchase the real estate, 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Berkshire or who has acted in the same development.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £305k and identified one near me in Berkshire I like with amenity areas and station in the vicinity, however it only has 51 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Berkshire suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a short lease?
If you need a home loan that many years will likely be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you could ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this matter.
Is it simple use your search app to get a fee calculation from a conveyancing lawyer in Berkshire on the panel for my lender?
1st pick a mortgage company such as National Westminster Bank, Leeds Building Society or Aldermore then specify your location e.g. Berkshire. Conveyancing practices in Berkshire and across England and Wales should be shown.