I purchased a freehold property in Portslade but still pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Portslade and has limited impact for conveyancing in Portslade but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

Old rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 will be dispensed with completely.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Portslade. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Clydesdale have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?

As you are obtaining a mortgage with Clydesdale your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing requirements set out in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Clydesdale. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook includes minimum provisions for solar panel roof-space leases, and lawyers are required to report to Clydesdale where a lease does not comply with these requirements. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not restricted to Portslade.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Portslade. I have a mortgage offer with Coventry BS. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Coventry BS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel.

After months of negotiation I have agreed a price on a house in Portslade. My financial adviser recommended their conveyancers. I paid an advanced payment of £200. A couple of days later, the solicitor called me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the RBS conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the RBS panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

I need some fast conveyancing in Portslade as I am under pressure to complete in less than 4 weeks. Fortunately I do not require a mortgage. Is it possible to decline from having conveyancing searches to save money and time?

As you are not taking a mortgage you have the choice not to do searches although no law firm would advise that you don't. With plenty of history conveyancing in Portslade the following are examples of issues that can crop up and therefore affect market value: Refused Planning Applications, Outstanding Charges, Outstanding Grants, Unadopted Roads,...

How does conveyancing in Portslade differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Portslade come to us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is built. This is because new home sellers in Portslade usually buy the land, 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 Portslade or who has acted in the same development.

I am one month into a freehold purchase having been recommend to solicitors by the estate agent to handle our conveyancing in Portslade. I am not happy. Could you you assist me in finding new conveyancers?

They would have to be very poor in order to consider replacing them. Has the mortgage been sent? If so you must inform them of the new contact details and ensure the loan are re-sent. Your solicitor ideally should be on the mortgage company panel to avoid supplemental fees and complications. So that should be your starting point. Our search tool can help you find a bank approved conveyancer for your home move in Portslade