I am purchasing a terrace house in Cheshire. The intention is to carry out a loft conversion at the property.Will legal conveyancing on the property involve checks to determine if these works are prohibited?

Your conveyancer should review the deeds as conveyancing in Cheshire can sometimes reveal restrictions in the title documents which prohibit certain alterations or require the consent of a 3rd party. Some additions require local authority planning consent and approval in accordance building regulations. Many areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which frequently prevent or affect extensions. It would be wise to check these issues with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.

We are getting the release of further monies on our mortgage from as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our property in Cheshire. Are we obliged to select a local Cheshire solicitor on the conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?

do not ordinarily instruct firms on their approved list of lawyers to deal with such a matter. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the conveyancing panel.

Our sealed bid on a property in Cheshire has been agreed to, but there is a chain. The owners have put an offer on on an apartment, but it’s not yet tied up, and are looking at other properties booked. I have chosen a local conveyancing solicitor in Cheshire. What should be my next step? At what stage should I apply for the mortgage with ?

It is normal to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then survey, Cheshire conveyancing search charges, etc). The first course of action is to ensure that your is on the approved list. Concerning the subsequent steps this very much depends on the specifics of your transaction, desire for this property and on the state of the market. During a rising market some buyers would apply for a home loan with and arrange for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they pay their to proceed with the conveyancing in Cheshire.

We are intent on selling our property in Cheshire and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. Any high street Cheshire conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers instructed an internet conveyancing firm rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Cheshire. We have lived in Cheshire for six years we know that this is a non issue. Should we contact our local Authority to obtain clarification need.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor already. Are they able to advise? You need to enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same ailment)

Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to our home are lost. The conveyancers who conducted the conveyancing in Cheshire years ago no longer exist. What do I do?

Assuming you have a registered title the details of your ownership will be held by HMLR under a Title Number. It is easy to conduct a search at the Land Registry, find your property and get current copies of the property title for a small fee. If the property is Leasehold then the Land Registry will in most cases hold a certified duplicate of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be obtained for twenty pounds.

My brother has recommend that I appoint his conveyancers in Cheshire. Should I choose my own conveyancer?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Cheshire conveyancing lawyer the best way to select a conveyancing solicitor is to have guidance from friends or family who have experience in using the solicitor you're are thinking of instructing.

I own a leasehold flat in Cheshire. Conveyancing and mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing solicitor in Cheshire who acted for me is not around. What should I do?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to incur the fees of a Cheshire conveyancing lawyer to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Cheshire Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

Its a good idea to discover as much as you can regarding the company managing the block as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you are often in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to every day issues like the upkeep of the communal areas. Ask prospective neighbours what they think of their service. In conclusion, be sure you know the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money. Is there a share of the freehold? Who are the managing agents?