As someone with no idea as to the Pitstone conveyancing process what’s your top tip you can impart concerning the house moving process in Pitstone

Not many law firms or advisers will tell you this but conveyancing in Pitstone and elsewhere in Buckinghamshire is an adversarial process. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there exists lots of opportunity for friction between you and others involved in the ownership transfer. For example, the seller, selling agent and even potentially your lender. Choosing a law firm for your conveyancing in Pitstone should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE party in the process whose interest is to protect your best interests and to keep you safe.

Every so often a third party with a vested interest may try and persuade you that it is in your interests to do things their way. For example, the property agent may claim to be helping by claiming that your lawyer is dragging his heels. Or your mortgage broker may tell you to do something that is contrary to your solicitors advice. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties in the conveyancing process.

A friend recommended that if I am buying in Pitstone I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

A search of this type is occasionally included in the estimate for your Pitstone conveyancing searches. It is a large report of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out significant information about Pitstone around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime statistics, Local Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data concerning Pitstone.

It has been three months following my purchase conveyancing in Pitstone completed. I have checked the Land Registry website which shows that I paid £150,000 when infact I paid £215,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the asset from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in Pitstone. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Pitstone

Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose?

I have recently realised that I have Seventy years left on my lease in Pitstone. I am keen to extend my lease but my landlord is can not be found. 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 apply 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 demonstrate that you have done all that could be expected to find the lessor. In some cases an enquiry agent should be useful to try and locate and to produce an expert document which can be used as evidence that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer in relation to proving the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court covering Pitstone.

I inherited a studio flat in Pitstone, conveyancing having been completed in 2012. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Pitstone with a long lease are worth £265,000. The ground rent is £50 yearly. The lease ceases on 21st October 2095

With 75 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £8,600 and £9,800 as well as professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs in the absence of detailed due diligence. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward based on this information without first getting professional advice.