My wife and I are purchasing a newly built duplex in East Grinstead and my conveyancer is telling me that she has to the lender to disclose incentives from the developer. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to exchange and I would rather not prolong matters. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your conveyancing practitioner. A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

I used Stirling Law several years past for my conveyancing in East Grinstead. Now, I need the files however the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?

Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in East Grinstead of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my business offices in East Grinstead and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act affords a safeguard to business tenants, granting the a statutory right to make a request to court for a continuation of occupancy when the lease comes to an end. There are certain specified grounds where a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. Fees are different for commercial conveyancing. East Grinstead is one of our numerous areas of the UK in which our lawyers are located

I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing lawyer in East Grinstead for my sale. Is there any facility to review a solicitor's record with the profession’s regulator?

One can see presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations stemming from inquisitions commenced on or after 1 January 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find information about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors record, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For non-uk callers, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA could recorded telephone calls for training requirements.

I only have Fifty years remaining on my flat in East Grinstead. I now want to extend my lease but my landlord is absent. What are my options?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be granted an extra 90 years by the Court. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you have done all that could be expected to track down the landlord. In some cases an enquiry agent may be helpful to try and locate and to produce an expert document which can be used as evidence that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on proving the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing East Grinstead.

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

If a East Grinstead lease has less than 80 years it will have adverse implications on the salability of the property. Check with your lender that they are content with residual term of the lease. A short lease means that you will most likely need a lease extension at some point and it is worth discovering how much this will be. For most East Grinsteadlease extensions you will need to own the premises for two years in order to be eligible to carry out a lease extension. Is there a share of the freehold?