Please help. My Hassocks solicitor is assuring me that she is duty bound toorder Hassocks conveyancing searches stemming from the fact thatthe firm are on the Nat Westconveyancing panel. These Hassocks checks cost a lot of money can this be avoided?

Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. As you are taking a home loan with a bank your conveyancer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your conveyancing practitioner would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your bank’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to comply with the CML Handbook conditions . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Hassocks conveyancing searches.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Hassocks?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Hassocks. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £235,500 and found one near me in Hassocks I like with amenity areas and station nearby, the downside is that it's only got 51 years on the lease. There is not much else in Hassocks suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a short lease?

Should you require a home loan the shortness of the lease will be an issue. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.

Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Hassocks from the point of view of saving time on the sale process?

• Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Hassocks can be reduced if you instruct lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation which will be required by the purchasers’ representatives.
If you have the benefit of shareholding in the freehold, you should make sure that you have the original share certificate. Obtaining a new share certificate is often a time consuming process and frustrates many a Hassocks home move. Where a reissued share is necessary, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this as soon as possible. If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s approval? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Hassocks state that internal structural alterations or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord approving such alterations. Should you dont have the approvals in place you should not contact the landlord without checking with your lawyer in the first instance. Some Hassocks leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their solicitors. If there is a history of conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be warry about purchasing a flat where there is an ongoing dispute. You will have to accept that you will have to pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal details of the dispute to the buyers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as historic rather than unsettled.

Hassocks Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing

You should be aware if it is no more than eighty years it will affect the value of the flat. Check with your bank that they are willing to lend given the lease term. A short lease means that you will almost definitely require a lease extension sooner rather than later and it is worth discovering what this will be. For most Hassockslease extensions you will need to own the premises for 24 months in order to be eligible to extend the lease. Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge payments? Who manages the building?

Been looking for a property lawyer for freehold sale conveyancing in Hassocks. I'm selling, simple no mortgage to redeem, no hurry, currently empty. Got an estimate from a conveyancer for £800 excluding VAT which is a tad steep given that its so straightforward. Is it possible to find less expensive fees for conveyancing in Hassocks?

Considering it’s a sale only, £425 + VAT is likely to be about the best for a Hassocks solicitor firm.