Having sold my house in East Sussex last November but my buyer keeps texting every few hours complaining that their solicitor needs to hear from mine. What are the post completion sale formalities following completion?

Following your house sale your solicitor should forward the transfer documentation and all supplemental paperwork to the buyer’s lawyers. Depending on the transaction, your solicitor must also evidence that the home loan has been discharged to the buyers conveyancers. There are no post completion tasks specific conveyancing in East Sussex.

Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to my property can not be found. The lawyers who conducted the conveyancing in East Sussex 5 years ago are no longer around. What are my options?

These day there are copies made of almost everything, and your conveyancer should be aware precisely where to look for all the appropriate documentation so you can purchase or dispose of your house without any difficulty. Where copies can’t be located, your conveyancer can arrange cover in the form of insurance or indemnities protecting you against possible claims on your property.

How does conveyancing in East Sussex differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build property in East Sussex approach us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is ready to move into. This is because house builders in East Sussex tend to acquire the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in East Sussex or who has acted in the same development.

Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in East Sussex prior to appointing conveyancers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold element to the house. My surveyor advised that some banks tend not issue a loan on a flying freehold house.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different requirements from Halifax. If you e-mail us we can check with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in East Sussex. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in East Sussex. Conveyancing and Coventry Building Society mortgage organised. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing solicitor in East Sussex who previously acted has long since retired. Do I pay?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to incur the fees of a East Sussex conveyancing lawyer to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. 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.

East Sussex Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to buying

Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge liability? Most East Sussex leasehold properties will be liable to pay a service charge for the upkeep of the block invoiced on behalf of the freeholder. Should you acquire the flat you will have to meet this charge, usually in instalments during the year. This may vary from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large common areas. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge to be met yearly, this is usually not a large sum, say around £25-£75 but you need to enquire it because sometimes it can be surprisingly expensive.