I purchased a freehold house in Billericay yet invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Billericay and has limited impact for conveyancing in Billericay but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of fresh rentcharges post 1977.

Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be dispensed with completely.

My brother-in-law has suggested I instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Billericay. I I am struggling to find out whether they are on the Coventry Building Society conveyancing panel. Could you assist?

You should phone the solicitor and enquire if they are on the lender panel. Alternatively you should get in touch with Coventry Building Society who may be able to confirm.

We were going to get a AIP from Santander this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Santander recommend any Billericay solicitors on the Santander conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?

You will need to appoint Billericay solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Santander conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Santander through the process.

The mortgage over my property is with Principality for my property in Billericay. Conveyancing was finalised 12 months ago. Should I wish to rent out my property and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a BTL mortgage or inform Principality?

Principality must be informed of your intention prior to letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Principality’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Principality directly. You need not do this via a Principality conveyancing panel firm.

I recently had an offer agreed on an apartment in Billericay. My mortgage broker pressured me to appoint their property lawyer. I paid an advanced payment of £150. A few days later, the lawyer contacted me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Co-operative panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

Looking forward to complete next month on a ground floor flat in Billericay. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they will have a report out to me tomorrow. What should I be looking out for?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Billericay should include some of the following:

Whether your lease caters for for a slush fund for major repairs? Changes to the premises The total ownership of the premises. This may be the property itself but could also include a attic or cellar if appropriate. You must be informed what is to be regarded as a Nuisance in the lease The landlord’s rights to access the flat. You should be made aware that your landlord has rights of access as well as be informed how much notice must be provided.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Billericay - A selection of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing

Who are the managing agents? You will want to find out as much as possible concerning the managing agents as they can either make living at the property much easier or problematic. As the proprietor of a leasehold property you are often in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to every day issues like the tidiness of the communal areas. You should not be shy to ask other people what they think of their management. On a final note, be sure you discover the dates that the service charges are due to the appropriate party and specifically what you get for your money.

I am purchasing a garden maisonette in Billericay. Conveyancing solicitor is awaiting, from the owner, building insurance paperwork. I was told today I was advised that the owner must send the insurance paperwork for the flat above as well. Why does my lawyer need to see the insurance for the flat above? Is it really necessary? We have been stalled for the last month…

It is not impossible in leasehold conveyancing in Billericay to discover Conveyancing in Billericay in a minority of cases reveals that the lease requires the tenant's to insure their individual flats as opposed to the freeholder insuring the complete premises - which is definitely better. Do check with your lawyer but it would seem that your solicitor is looking to verify that the whole building is insured. Insuring a ground floor residence is no help when it comes to rebuilding after a fire if the other flat cannot be reconstructed as a result of lack of insurance cover.