I am hoping to receive a offer of a home loan from Halifax. I would like to employ the services of a Licensed Conveyancer in Binfield. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel allow for Licensed Conveyancers?

The Halifax conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.

My partner and I are getting closer to an exchange on a flat in Binfield and my parents have transferred the exchange deposit to my conveyancer. I am now advised that as the deposit has been received from someone other than me my solicitor needs to make a notification to my lender. Apparently, in also acting for the bank he must advise them that the balance of the purchase price is not just from me. I disclosed to the mortgage company about my parents' contribution when I applied for the mortgage, so is it really appropriate for him to raise this?

The conveyancing practitioner is duty bound to check with the bank to make sure that they know that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own resources. Your solicitor can only reveal this to your lender if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.

I am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £235,500 and identified one close by in Binfield I like with amenity areas and railway links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 61 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Binfield in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a short lease?

Should you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease will likely be problematic. Reduce the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.

How do I search for a Binfield solicitor on the Halifax conveyancing panel? I have a car and am willing to travel upto 10kilometers to meet the lawyer.

Feel free to make use of the search on this page. Please select a lender and your location and you will see a number of Binfield conveyancing lawyers located nearest you. We have detailed some Binfield conveyancing firms at the bottom of this page and you can ring them to check if they are on the Halifax member panel

I've recently bought a leasehold flat in Binfield. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, 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).

Binfield Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should consider before Purchasing

It would be prudent to discover as much as you can concerning the company managing the block as they will either make living at the property much simpler or much more difficult. As the owner of a leasehold property you will be in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to daily matters like the cleanliness of the communal areas. Ask other people if they are happy with them. In conclusion, be sure you understand the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money. What is the service charge and ground rent on the flat? Are there any major works on the horizon that could add a premium to the service fees?