We have rather brash vendors who has suggested a preliminary contract with a deposit 10k. Are such agreements sensible?

Lock out contracts are agreements binding a property owner and prospective buyer giving the buyer a ‘clear field’ to the sale of the property within a prescribed time frame. For all intents and purposes, an exclusivity agreement is a contract specifying that you will have a contract at a later date which is the main conveyancing contract. It is generally used for buyer assurance though in some cases, the seller may enjoy an upside from such agreements as well. There are many pros and cons to having an agreement but you need to check with your lawyer but note that it may end up incurring more in conveyancing fees. For this these agreements are avoided in relation to conveyancing in Northfleet.

Various internet forums that I have frequented warn that are the main cause of obstruction in Northfleet house deals. Is there any truth in this?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published conclusions of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the common causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Searches are unlikely to feature in any slowing down conveyancing in Northfleet.

Hoping to buy a property located in Northfleet and I am already nervous. I couldn't find anything specific about Northfleet. Conveyancing will be needed in due course but do you know about the Northfleet area? or perhaps some other tips you can share?

Rather than looking online forget looking online you should go and have a look at Northfleet. In the meantime here are some basic statistics that we found

We expect to complete our sale of a £225,000 garden flat in Northfleet next week. The managing agents has quoted £360 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a flat conveyance in Northfleet?

For the majority of leasehold sales in Northfleet conveyancing will involve, queries regarding the management of a building inevitably needing to be answered directly by the freeholder or its agent, this includes :

Answering pre-exchange questions Where consent is required before sale in Northfleet Copies of the building insurance and schedule Deeds of covenant upon sale Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your solicitor will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Northfleet leasehold premises is £350. For Northfleet conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are obliged to provide answers.

I bought a 1 bedroom flat in Northfleet, conveyancing was carried out January 2007. How much will my lease extension cost? Comparable properties in Northfleet with over 90 years remaining are worth £195,000. The ground rent is £45 levied per year. The lease terminates on 21st October 2088

With only 63 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to span between £16,200 and £18,600 plus legals.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed due diligence. You should not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be other issues that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

There are a lot of properties in Northfleet on unadopted roads. I am acquiring such a house. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a house on a private road?

Northfleet conveyancing practices will be used to dealing propertieson private. Your property lawyer should investigate Land Registry data to find any rights or liabilities. It is possible that there is a residents association that owners make annual contributions for the upkeep of the road. If there is one, the road will likely be maintained and appear better than council maintained.