What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Crawley Down? What am I being asked for?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the identity of the person or body they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing retainer. The Terms and Conditions that you are required to sign should stipulate this. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the CML Lenders Handbook requirements last updated on 1st December 2014. Should you refuse to supply identification documents, your lawyer would not be able to accept instructions from you.

What happens if my lawyer’s firm is expelled from the Virgin Money Conveyancing panel ahead of completing my conveyancing in Crawley Down?

The first thing to point out is that, this is a very rare occurrence. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have to instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by a regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.

I need some quick conveyancing in Crawley Down as I am faced with pressure to complete inside one month. Thankfully I do not need a mortgage. Can I avoid the conveyancing searches to save money and time?

As you are are a mortgage free buyer you have the choice not to do searches although no conveyancer would advise that you don't. Drawing on our experience of conveyancing in Crawley Down the following are instances of what can arise and adversely affect future saleability: Enforcement Notices, Overdue Fees, Outstanding Grants, Road Schemes,...

I'm purchasing a new build house in Crawley Down with a mortgage from Chelsea Building Society. The developers would not move on the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The estate agent suggested that I not reveal to my lawyer about this deal as it will affect my mortgage with Chelsea Building Society. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to meet my requirements, at a reasonable figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently been informed that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns buying a leasehold house in Crawley Down. Conveyancing solicitors have are about to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Crawley Down are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Crawley Down in which case you should be looking for a Crawley Down conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions such as obtaining the landlord’spermission to conduct alterations. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer will report to you on the legal implications.

I purchased a split level flat in Crawley Down, conveyancing formalities finalised 8 years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Corresponding flats in Crawley Down with an extended lease are worth £260,000. The ground rent is £50 invoiced every year. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2100

With 75 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to range between £8,600 and £9,800 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed due diligence. Do not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.