Can the conveyancing solicitors that you recommend conduct conveyancing in East Sussex by way of an attended exchange?

We do have a number of conveyancing specialists who can conduct one day exchanges. You should contact us to secure a conveyancing quote and details as to dates.

It is 10 years ago since I purchased my house in East Sussex. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been retained on the sale but I am unable to locate my deeds. Is this a problem?

You need not be too concerned. First the deeds may be kept by your mortgage company or they may be in the possession of the conveyancers who oversaw your purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the land will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors obtaining up to date copy of the land registers. Most conveyancing in East Sussex involves registered property but in the rare situation where your property is not registered it is more problematic but is resolvable.

I acquired my apartment on 8 January and the transaction details is not yet registered. Any reason for this? My conveyancing solicitor in East Sussex expressed confidence that it would be concluded in a couple of weeks. Are properties in East Sussex uniquely lengthy to register?

As far as conveyancing in East Sussex is concerned, registration is no faster or slower than anywhere else in England and Wales. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timescales can adjust subject to the party submitting the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry need to notify any other parties. Currently approximately 80% of such applications are fully addressed in less than three weeks but some can be subject to protracted hold-ups. Registration takes place once the new owner has moved in to the property thus registration formalities is not typically top priority yet if there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your solicitor must speak with the land registry and explain the circumstances.

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

Most buyers of new build property in East Sussex contact us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is finished. This is because developers in East Sussex tend to buy the land, 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 conveyancers 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.

I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a couple of maisonettes in East Sussex both have about 50 years left on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

There are plenty of short leases in East Sussex. The lease is a right to use the property for a period of time. As a lease gets shorter the marketability of the lease deteriorates and results in it becoming more costly to acquire a lease extension. This is why it is generally wise to extend the lease term. It is often difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage companies may be unwilling to lend money on such properties. Lease extension can be a protracted process. We recommend you get professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this arena.

I own a leasehold flat in East Sussex, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Similar flats in East Sussex with a long lease are worth £165,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 yearly. The lease expires on 21st October 50

With just 50 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £36,100 and £41,800 plus legals.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to supply a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive investigations. You should not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward based on this information without first getting professional advice.