In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Leatherhead? What am I being asked for?

Leatherhead conveyancing solicitors as well as nationwide property practitioners accross the UK have an obligation under money laundering regulations to verify the identity of any client in order to satisfy themselves that clients are who they say they are.

Conveyancing clients are required to produce two forms of certified ID; proof of identity (typically a Passport or Driving Licence) and proof of address (typically a Utility Bill less than 3 months old).

Confirmation of the origin of funds is also required in accordance with the money laundering statutes as conveyancers are required to check that the funds you are utilising to acquire a property (whether it be the deposit for exchange or the total purchase monies where you are buying mortgage free) has come from a reputable source (such as employment savings) rather than the proceeds of criminal behaviour.

We had instructed conveyancers locally in Leatherhead on the Santander solicitor panel. They are now charging me a separate sum for handling the Santander mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by Santander?

Provided it is contained in their Terms of Engagement or estimate then yes your lawyer can levy a fee for this. The fee is not dictated by Santander but by your Leatherhead conveyancing practitioner. Plenty of firms on the Santander panel will quote ’dealing with mortgage’ fee but some practices incorporate it on their overall fee.

The formalities of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Leatherhead. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?

Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are sorted out very quickly. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.

I've digested plenty of mortgage guides, I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Leatherhead solicitor - who is on the Barclays conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?

Barclays will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Barclays will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your conveyancer will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Leatherhead postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Barclays, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Leatherhead.

Will our conveyancer be asking questions about flooding as part of the conveyancing in Leatherhead.

Flooding is a growing risk for solicitors dealing with homes in Leatherhead. There are those who purchase a property in Leatherhead, fully aware that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, adequate building insurance, or dispose of the property. Steps can be carried out during the course of a property purchase to forewarn the purchaser.

Lawyers are not best placed to offer advice on flood risk, however there are a numerous searches that may be carried out by the purchaser or by their solicitors which will figure out the risks in Leatherhead. The standard completed inquiry forms sent to a purchaser’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) contains a standard question of the owner to determine whether the property has suffered from flooding. In the event that flooding has previously occurred which is not revealed by the owner, then a buyer may issue a compensation claim as a result of such an incorrect response. The purchaser’s conveyancers should also commission an environmental search. This should indicate whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries should be made.

I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £305k and identified one round the corner in Leatherhead I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, however it only has 61 years on the lease. There is not much else in Leatherhead for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a lease with such few years left?

Should you require a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you can request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.

Planning to complete next month on a ground floor flat in Leatherhead. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they will have a report out to me on Monday. What should I be looking out for?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Leatherhead should include some of the following:

What options are available to the landlord where you breach a clause of your lease? Repair and maintenance of the flat Does the lease prohibit wood flooring? What you can do if another leaseholder in the building breaches a clause of their lease? Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat?

I invested in buying a basement flat in Leatherhead, conveyancing formalities finalised in 2002. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Corresponding properties in Leatherhead with a long lease are worth £206,000. The ground rent is £45 levied per year. The lease expires on 21st October 2092

You have 67 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £10,500 and £12,000 plus professional fees.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed due diligence. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.