The owners have rather pushy sellers who has insisted on a lock out agreement with a non-refundable deposit two thousand pounds. Is it wise to enter into such agreements?

This form of agreement is not the norm in Fratton and Portsea, conveyancers will often encourage clients away from them as they detract from focusing on the main conveyancing focus and if you end up losing your deposit then the lawyer at best left with an upset client and at worst a litigious one. Secondly, there is no guarantee that just because the seller has signed a lock out agreement they will sell to you. They may be motivated to break the contract if they receive a big enough offer to do so because an aggrieved buyer with the benefit of a lockout agreement will still have to establish consequential losses from the breach and these may not compare to the financial upside that your seller may secure by reneging on the contract, however morally condemnable it undoubtedly is.

I purchased a freehold premises in Fratton and Portsea yet invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in Fratton and Portsea and has limited impact for conveyancing in Fratton and Portsea but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 will be extinguished.

I appreciate that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Am I compelled to have this when purchasing a property in Fratton and Portsea? or Apparently there is an ancient law that could mean that homeowners living in a parish church boundary will be compelled to contribute towards repairs to the chancel in proximity to the church. Is this suitable for conveyancing in Fratton and Portsea?

Unless a prior acquisition of the premises took place post 12 October 2013 you can take it that solicitors conducting conveyancing in Fratton and Portsea to remain recommending a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

Me and my brother own a 4 bedroom Edwardian house in Fratton and Portsea. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Godiva Mortgages 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, another for leasehold under the exact same address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be 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 Fratton and Portsea and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also question the situation with the conveyancing solicitor who conducted the purchase.

Yesterday I discovered 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, no chain conveyancing. Fratton and Portsea is the location of the property. Is there any advice you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Fratton and Portsea are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Fratton and Portsea you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Fratton and Portsea may decide 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 property.