I am buying a terraced house in Fishponds. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Fishponds you will have to appoint a solicitor on your lender's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Fishponds.

Me and my brother purchased a 4 bedroom Edwardian property in Fishponds. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Platform Home Loans Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You should read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Fishponds and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also check the position with the conveyancing lawyer who completed the work.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Fishponds is where the house is located. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Fishponds are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Fishponds you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Fishponds may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.

I was pointed in your direction by a number of estate agents in Fishponds to find a solicitor on your site. Is there a financial advantage for Estate Agents to promote your site over and above a competitor’s?

We refuse to offer any financial incentive for sending work to this site. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as home movers will think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

I am hoping to sign contracts shortly on a studio apartment in Fishponds. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they are sending me a report within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Fishponds should include some of the following:

Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat? Repair and maintenance of the premises You should have a good understanding of the building insurance obligations Does the lease require carpeting throughout thus preventing wood flooring? Whether the lease restricts you from letting out the flat, or working from home

I acquired a split level flat in Fishponds, conveyancing having been completed 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? Comparable properties in Fishponds with an extended lease are worth £202,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £60 invoiced annually. The lease expires on 21st October 2079

You have 57 years unexpired we estimate the premium for your lease extension to span between £28,500 and £33,000 plus legals.

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 detailed investigations. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other issues that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.