I instructed a high street solicitor for my conveyancing in Newton Abbot yesterday. Upon checking the Terms and Conditions I noteI am liable for costs even if our purchase aborts. Should I ditch them and select an on-line firm promoting no-sale-no-fee conveyancing in Newton Abbot?

Generally there is a concession along the lines that if "No Sale No Fee" is available then the conveyancing charges will tend to be be uplifted to cover those transactions that abort. Dont forget that such promotions tend not to cover outlay such your Newton Abbot conveyancing search charges.

I used Stirling Law a few years ago for my conveyancing in Newton Abbot. Now, I need my documents but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Newton Abbot of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I am looking for a ground for flat up to £195,000 and found one close by in Newton Abbot I like with open areas and transport links nearby, however it only has 61 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Newton Abbot in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a short lease?

If you need a home loan that many years will likely be an issue. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the premises for at least twenty four months you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this.

Should I be wary that estate agents that I am dealing with are recommending a nationwide conveyancing firm as opposed to a High Street Newton Abbot conveyancing firm?

As is the case with many professional services, often referrals from family and friends can be worth their weight in gold. Yet there are many players in a conveyancing deal; estate agents, financial adviser and mortgage companies might all put forward solicitors to select. Sometimes these conveyancers might be known to one of the organisations as being good in their field, but occasionally there exists a commercial relationship behind the endorsement. You are at liberty to choose your preferred lawyer. However, bear in mind that the majority of banks operate an approved list of lawyers you are obliged to use for the lender related work in your conveyancing.

There are only 72 years unexpired on my lease in Newton Abbot. I am keen to get lease extension but my freeholder is missing. What options are available to me?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be lengthened by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you have done all that could be expected to track down the lessor. For most situations a specialist would be helpful to carry out a search and prepare a report to be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a conveyancer both on investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Newton Abbot.

I inherited a garden flat in Newton Abbot, conveyancing was carried out in 1995. How much will my lease extension cost? Similar flats in Newton Abbot with a long lease are worth £165,000. The ground rent is £45 invoiced every year. The lease expires on 21st October 50

With just 50 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to span between £36,100 and £41,800 plus legals.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more comprehensive due diligence. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information before getting professional advice.