I am expecting a offer of a home loan from Halifax. I would like to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer in Bexhill. Does the Halifax Conveyancing panel allow for conveyancers regulated by the CLC?

The Halifax approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the CML or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

The vendors of the house we are looking to purchase have instructed a conveyancing solicitor in Bexhill who has suggested a lock out contract with a deposit 6,000. Are such agreements sensible?

Exclusivity agreements are contracts binding a property seller and purchaser granting the buyer a ‘clear field’ to purchase the property for a set period of time. For all intents and purposes, an exclusivity is a document specifying that you should have a contract at a later time being the contract for the actual sale. It tends to be used for buyer protection though in many situations, the seller may enjoy an upside from such agreements as well. There are numerous positives and negatives to using an agreement but you need to check with your solicitor but note that it may result in incurring more in conveyancing charges. For these reasons these agreements are rare in relation to conveyancing in Bexhill.

I am looking for a ground for flat up to £305k and identified one near me in Bexhill I like with amenity areas and transport links in the vicinity, however it's only got 51 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Bexhill suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?

If you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term may be problematic. Discount the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for at least 2 years you may ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.

I am one month into a freehold purchase having been directed to solicitors by the high street agent to carry out the conveyancing in Bexhill. I am am starting to be disappointed with the level of service. Can you you assist me in finding new solicitors?

A conveyancer would need to be very bad in order to consider replacing them. Has your mortgage offer been generated? If so you must inform them of the new contact details and have the loan are re-sent. The solicitor ideally needs to be on the lenders approved list to avoid escalating fees and delays. So that should be your first question of the new conveyancers. The find a solicitor tool can help you find a bank approved lawyer for your conveyancing in Bexhill

Last February I purchased a leasehold property in Bexhill. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before my ownership?

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. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure 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).

Bexhill Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should ask before buying

Its a good idea to find out as much as you can concerning the company managing the building as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you will be at the mercy of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to every day matters like the upkeep of the common parts. Don't be shy to ask other people what they think of them. Finally, find out the dates that the maintenance charges are due to the appropriate party and precisely how they are spending that money. What prohibitions are there in the Bexhill Lease? The answer will be helpful as a) areas could cause problems in the building as the common areas may begin to deteriorate if maintenance remain unpaid b) if the leaseholders have an issue with the managing agents you will want to have all the details