We went with a high street firm for my conveyancing in Marple recently. Going through the small print it is apparent thatI am liable for charges even if our purchase doesn't happen. Should I ditch them and use a web based conveyancing company offering no completion no charge conveyancing in Marple?

It is usually ‘give and take’ in that if "No Completion No Fee" is advertised then the fee levels will generally be more expensive to neutralise those transactions that abort. Also remember that these offerings rarely cover expenditure by way of example Marple conveyancing search fees.

My husband and I are acquiring a newly built apartment in Marple and my lawyer is informing me that she is duty bound to the mortgage company to reveal incentives from the seller. I am under pressure to sign contracts and I would rather not delay the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your property lawyer. A precondition to being on a bank panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

It is is a decade since I bought my home in Marple. Conveyancing solicitors have just been instructed on the sale but I am unable to locate my title documents. Will this cause complications?

You need not be too concerned. Firstly there is a chance that the deeds will be kept by your lender or they could be in the possession of the conveyancers who acted in your purchase. Secondly the chances are that the property will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing lawyers procuring current official copies of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Marple relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is not registered it adds to the complexity but is not insurmountable.

How does conveyancing in Marple differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build residence in Marple contact us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is completed. This is because new home sellers in Marple tend to purchase 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 conveyancers 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 Marple or who has acted in the same development.

Last July I purchased a leasehold property in Marple. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element 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).

Marple Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

It is important to be aware whether window replacement or some other major work is due in the foreseeable future that will be shared by the leaseholders and will dramatically impact the level of the service costs or require a specific invoice. Does the lease have onerous restrictions?