Can conveyancing in Durham to be completed in under 3 weeks?

First, If you are under a tight deadline for your conveyancing we would recommend that your lawyer is familiar with the area as they will benefit local contacts and insight. It is possible that they could have handled previoushomes in the same road. You would be best advised to use a Durham conveyancing lawyer. Second, ensure that the lawyer is on the on the approved list for your mortgage company. It is estimated that just under twenty per cent of Durham conveyancing deals are suspended or jeopardised after finding out that a purchaser’s conveyancer was not on their mortgage lender’s list of approved solicitors. In many cases this discovery resulted in the transaction being delayed by almost 21 days. It is said that this issue impacts in the region of 100,000 home sales every year. Most Durham conveyancing practices can not represent certain mortgage companies so do check as early as possible.

We are planning to buy with Earl Shilton BS. We have called around locally but am unable to find a Durham conveyancing firm on the Earl Shilton BS panel. Could you help?

You should make the most of the search tool on this page. Pick the lender and type Durham or your preferred area and you will be presented with numerous solicitors based in Durham or by proximity to you.

I am helping my mother sell her house in Durham. Does the conveyancing solicitor order the energy assessment or it is for the seller to coordinate?

After the abolition of Home Packs, energy assessments became a required element of moving property. An energy assessment must be to hand in advance of the property being marketed. It is not as aspect of the sale process that conveyancers ordinarily organise. Where you are using a Durham conveyancing solicitor they may be willing to arrange energy performance certificates due to their contacts with reputable Durham providers

We have agreed to purchase a house in Durham. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Nationwide have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?

Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with Nationwide your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing requirements set out in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Nationwide. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook stipulates minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancers are required to report to Nationwide where a lease fails to satisfy these provisions. The conditions relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not limited to Durham.

I am due to exchange contracts on my house. I had a double glazing fitted in June 2008, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's mortgage company, Kent Reliance are being pedantic. The Durham solicitor who is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel is saying indemnity insurance will be fine but Kent Reliance are requiring a building regulation certificate. Why do Kent Reliance have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?

It is probably the case that Kent Reliance have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Kent Reliance may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.

I am looking for a flat up to £195,000 and identified one close by in Durham I like with a park and railway links nearby, however it's only got 51 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Durham suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease may be an issue. Reduce the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this matter.

I own a leasehold flat in Durham. Conveyancing and Coventry Building Society mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1998. The conveyancing practitioner in Durham who previously acted has now retired. What should I do?

First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is indeed the new freeholder. You do not need to instruct a Durham conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

I purchased a basement flat in Durham, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you let me have an estimate of the premium that my landlord can legally expect in return for granting a renewal of my lease? Corresponding properties in Durham with an extended lease are worth £201,000. The ground rent is £45 invoiced annually. The lease finishes on 21st October 2088

With 65 years unexpired we estimate the premium for your lease extension to span between £13,300 and £15,400 plus 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 the actual costs without more comprehensive due diligence. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.