I require conveyancing for an apartment in a relatively new development (6 years old) in Leicestershire. Almost all the appartments have already been disposed of. Do I need carry out the local searches as part of conveyancing in Leicestershire?
Where you are obtaining a loan, your mortgage company will insist on some (many) of the searches so you'll have no choice. If not, then Leicestershire conveyancing searches are for you to decide upon. Your lawyer, will ’encourage’, perhaps strongly, that you should have the searches done, but he or she has a professional duty to do this. One thing to bear in mind; if you are likely to sell the house one day, it may be of interest to your future buyer what the searches contain. Sometimes houses with no practical issues can still throw up adverse search results. But if you choose to instruct your lawyer to proceed without searches then your lawyer will have to follow your instructions or you will need to switch to another solicitor for your conveyancing in Leicestershire.
What can a local search tell me concerning the property I am buying in Leicestershire?
Leicestershire conveyancing often commences with the submitting local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search company for instance PSG The local search plays an important part in most Leicestershire conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any nasty surprises after you move into your property. The search will reveal data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable 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 headings.
How does conveyancing in Leicestershire differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Leicestershire approach us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is built. This is because builders in Leicestershire typically acquire the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Leicestershire or who has acted in the same development.
Last November I purchased a leasehold property in Leicestershire. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?
In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
I inherited a split level flat in Leicestershire, conveyancing having been completed in 1997. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Leicestershire with over 90 years remaining are worth £202,000. The ground rent is £60 invoiced every year. The lease ends on 21st October 2080
With just 56 years left to run the likely cost is going to range between £29,500 and £34,000 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.
The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more comprehensive due diligence. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before getting professional advice.
My husband and I are are looking to find a dependable conveyancing solicitor in Leicestershire to buy a flat. I want to avoid being ripped off but with plenty Leicestershire conveyancing firms out there...who's the best?
A trustworthy personal recommendation via a person who has instructed a conveyancing solicitor before is always a best. Almost everyone has used a conveyancing solicitor in the past. Do utilise our tool to compare Leicestershire conveyancing quotes