We are planning to acquire a property and need a conveyancing solicitor in Bolton who is on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel. Can you recommend a local conveyancing firm?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Yorkshire BS . We don't recommend any particular firms conducting conveyancing in Bolton.

The Bolton conveyancing firm that just started acting on my purchase in Bolton have suddenly closed. They were on acting for me because I had to have a solicitor on the TSB conveyancing panel and my family Bolton lawyer was not. I sent them a cheque for £250 in advance. What are my options?

Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then inform them straight away so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the TSB conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers should be in a position to assist.

Will my solicitor be raising enquiries concerning flooding as part of the conveyancing in Bolton.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for solicitors conducting conveyancing in Bolton. There are those who acquire a house in Bolton, completely expectant that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, leaving to one side the physical destruction, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or sell the property. There are steps that can be taken during the course of a property purchase to forewarn the purchaser.

Conveyancers are not best placed to give advice on flood risk, however there are a various searches that can be undertaken by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which should give them a better understanding of the risks in Bolton. The standard completed inquiry forms supplied to a purchaser’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) contains a usual question of the vendor to determine if the property has ever been flooded. In the event that flooding has previously occurred which is not notified by the vendor, then a buyer may commence a compensation claim as a result of such an inaccurate reply. The buyer’s conveyancers may also carry out an environmental report. This should disclose if there is any known flood risk. If so, additional investigations will need to be made.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Bolton?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Bolton. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a studio apartment in Bolton. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they report fully next week. What should I be looking out for?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Bolton should include some of the following:

Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice? What you can do if another leaseholder in the building breaches a clause of their lease? Does the lease prevent you from renting out the property, or having a home office for business Information as to the provision as set out in the lease to to contribute towards maintenance costs - in respect of the block, and the more general rights a tenant enjoys

Bolton Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries Prior to buying

It would be prudent to discover as much as possible about the managing agents as they can either make living at the property much simpler or uncomfortable. Being a leasehold owner you will be at the mercy of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to day to day issues like the upkeep of the communal areas. Ask other tenants what they think of them. On a final note, find out the dates that the maintenance charges are due to the managing agents and precisely what you get for your money. Does the lease include onerous restrictions? Is anyone aware of any major works in the planning that will add a premium to the maintenance fees?