I am hoping to complete my purchase in Kingston Park next Friday. My conveyancer now wants me to supply her with proof of content and building insurance for the property as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the bank. What does the insurance need to cover?

All property lawyers on acting for lenders would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s Part 2 instructions. These requirements are not limited to conveyancing in Kingston Park.

I am purchasing a new build flat in Kingston Park. 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 Kingston Park you will have to appoint a solicitor on your bank'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 Kingston Park.

What can a local search inform me concerning the house we're purchasing in Kingston Park?

Kingston Park conveyancing often starts with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search company for instance Xpress Legal The local search is essential in every Kingston Park conveyancing purchase; that is if you wish to avoid any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search should supply information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 subject areas.

I have been recommended by a number of estate agents in Kingston Park to select a property lawyer on your site. What’s the financial upside for Estate Agents to recommend your services ahead of a competitor’s?

We refuse to give any financial incentive for sending work our way. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission as members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

What are the common defects that you come across in leases for Kingston Park properties?

Leasehold conveyancing in Kingston Park is not unique. All leases are unique and drafting errors can result in certain provisions are erroneous. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party. Maintenance charge proportions which don’t add up to the correct percentage

You may have a problem when selling your property if you have a defective lease as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. Nationwide Building Society, Coventry Building Society, and Barclays Direct all have express conveyancing instructions when it comes to what is expected in a lease. Where a lender has been advised by their lawyers that the lease does not cover certain provisions they may refuse to grant the mortgage, forcing the purchaser to withdraw.

Kingston Park Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

Does this lease have more than 80 years left? Does the lease have onerous restrictions? The best form of lease structure is where the freehold reversion is in the ownership of the leaseholders. In this arrangement the leaseholders enjoy control and although a managing agent is usually retained where it is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent retained by the leaseholders.