My previous lawyer has quoted £995 for fixed fee conveyancing in Leek. I’m looking to sell a purpose built property for £200,000. Are the quoted fees excessive? Is it in excess of the norm for conveyancing in Leek?

The estimate does seem a tad steep. If you are happy to expend time scrutinising fee on a like for like basis you might get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by as much as a hundred pounds. On the other hand, you mightlive to rue opting for an an unknown conveyancer. Remember to be sure that the solicitor can act for your bank. You can use our search tool to select a Leek conveyancing practice on the lender’s approved list of lawyers which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Leek.

The Leek conveyancing lawyers that just started acting on my purchase in Leek have without warning closed. They were on acting for me because I needed a solicitor on the conveyancing panel and my family Leek lawyer was not. I paid them money in advance. What are my options?

Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then inform them straight away so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers should be in a position to assist.

If you had a top tip for choosing a conveyancing solicitor in Leek what would it be?

We would encourage you not to go for the cheapest Leek conveyancing quote. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to conveyancing solicitors. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you know exactly what you’ll have to pay in advance.

Forgive me if this question is silly but I am unexperienced as a first time buyer of a garden flat in Leek. Do I pick up the keys to the property on the completion date from my lawyer? If this is the case, I will use a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Leek?

There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Conveyancing lawyers for you will electronically transfer the completion advance to the vendor’s lawyers, and once they have received this, you should be called to pick up the keys from the property Agents and move into your new home. This tends to happen between 1 and 3pm.

Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with . Leek conveyancing practitioners were selected. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from ?

Some lenders take longer than others. Have done the valuation? Have you informed as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.

Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Leek prior to retaining lawyers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. The surveyor advised that some mortgage companies tend not grant a mortgage on such a home.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different requirements from Halifax. If you e-mail us we can investigate further via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Leek. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Leek especially if they are acquainted with such properties in Leek.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to be perfect, at a reasonable figure which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently discovered that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in Leek. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Leek ?

Most houses in Leek are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Leek so you should seriously consider looking for a Leek conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a tenant you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions such as obtaining the freeholder’spermission to carry out alterations. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your conveyancer should report to you on the legal implications.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Leek - Examples of Questions you should ask before buying

Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge payments? What is the annual service fee and ground rent? The best form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this arrangement the leaseholders benefit from control and although a managing agent is frequently employed if the building is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants.