Just contacted my conveyancing lawyer in County Durham who conducted the legals 18 months ago asking for a conveyancing costs illustration based on the same type of home move (a leasehold property and a freehold property) of similar values with a loan from Alliance & Leicester . I am now being quoted double. Should I look for a cheaper online property lawyer?

The costs illustration is slightly on the steep side. If you you were to look around you could decrease the fees marginally by perhaps a hundred pounds. That being said, if you were pleased with the assistance the firm provided you couldcome to rue choosing an an untested conveyancer. Remember to check that the solicitor can act for Alliance & Leicester . Do use our search tool to locate a County Durham conveyancing firm on the Alliance & Leicester approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in County Durham.

Can you help? My County Durham lawyer is advising me that he has toconduct County Durham conveyancing searches resulting from the fact thatthe firm are on the Lloydsconveyancing panel. These County Durham searches cost a lot of money can this be avoided?

You have limited options available to you. Given that you are taking out a loan with a bank your conveyancer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your conveyancing practitioner would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your bank’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook specifications . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out County Durham conveyancing searches.

Completed the sale of my flat in County Durham last February yet the purchaser is SMS messaging every few hours complaining that his conveyancer needs to hear from mylawyer. What are the post completion sale legalities now that I have sold?

After completion of your sale your lawyer should send the transfer deeds and all of the paperwork to the purchaser's solicitors. If applicable, your conveyancer must also evidence that the home loan has been repaid to the purchasers solicitors. There are no post completion procedures specific conveyancing in County Durham.

I need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor for purchase conveyancing in County Durham. I've chance upon a site which seems to have the ideal offering If it is possible to get all the legals completed via web that would be ideal. Do I need to be concerned? What are the potential pitfalls?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

Planning to sign contracts shortly on a leasehold property in County Durham. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they are sending me a report next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

The physical extent of the property. This could be the flat itself but might include a roof area or basement if applicable. What options are open to you if another leaseholder in the building breaches a clause of their lease? Information concerning the obligations in the lease to to contribute towards maintenance costs - in respect of the block, and the wider rights a tenant has Your lawyers should enable you to have an understanding of the building insurance obligations

County Durham Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Queries before Purchasing

How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their maintenance charge payments? The answer will be helpful as a) areas may result in problems for the building as the common areas may begin to deteriorate where maintenance remain unpaid b) if the tenants have a dispute with the managing agents you will wish to have all the details It would be sensible to discover as much as possible about the company managing the block as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. As the owner of a leasehold property you are frequently at the mercy of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to practical matters like the tidiness of the common parts. Enquire of other tenants whether they are happy with their service. On a final note, be sure you know the dates that the maintenance fees are due to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money.