I am assisting my step-mother sell her house in Bookham. Will the conveyancing solicitor arrange an energy assessment or it is for the seller to see to?

Following the demise of Home Information Packs, energy assessments was retained a required component of moving property. An energy assessment must be to hand before the property is advertised. This is not as aspect of the sale process that law firms normally organise. If you are instructing a Bookham conveyancing lawyer they may be able to arrange EPC’s due to their relationships with reputable Bookham accredited person

Is it correct that all Bookham CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the UBS conveyancing list of approved practices?

Some major lenders now utilise CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to join their panels.

Two weeks ago we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Aldermore. Bookham conveyancing solicitors have been selected. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Aldermore?

Some lenders take longer than others. Have Aldermore done the valuation? Have you advised Aldermore as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Aldermore conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.

My wife and I own a semi-detached Georgian house in Bookham. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and National Westminster Bank. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold with the matching property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You need to assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Bookham and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also check the position with the conveyancing solicitor who conducted the work.

How does conveyancing in Bookham differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Bookham contact us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is completed. This is because developers in Bookham usually buy the site, 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 Bookham or who has acted in the same development.

Looking forward to complete next month on a studio apartment in Bookham. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they report fully within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

It needs to be made clear to you whether the lease allows you to alter or upgrade anything in the property- you should know whether any restrictions relates to all alterations or limited to structural alteration, and whether licences for alterations is required Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property and do you know what it means in practice? The physical extent of the premises. This may be the apartment itself but might include a attic or storage are if applicable. You would want to receive a copy of the lease

Bookham Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries before Purchasing

Where a Bookham lease has fewer than eighty years it will have adverse implications on the value of the apartment. It is worth checking with your mortgage company that they are willing to to proceed given the lease term. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will probably have to extend the lease at some point and it is worth discovering what this would cost. For most Bookhamlease extensions you will be be obliged to have owned the residence for a couple of years before you are legally able to exercise a lease extension. Who manages the block? How much is the ground rent and service charge?

I see that you have a search directory identifying firms on the mortgage company conveyancing panel. Do Bookham conveyancing companies pay you a referral fee if I instruct them for my own conveyancing?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the bank conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to the any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Bookham.