We are acquiring our first home. Our conveyancer has e-mailedto see if we want to order extra conveyancing searches. Frankly we in the dark as to what's appropriate for conveyancing in Pound Hill

The number and type of Pound Hill conveyancing searches depends entirely on the premises, the location, the possibility of any of these risks, your familiarity of the area and risks, your overall approach to risk. What matters is that you properly understand what information each search could give you. Then you can decide if you personally think you need that search. Where you are in doubt, ask your solicitor to advise.

It is a dozen years since I purchased my house in Pound Hill. Conveyancing solicitors have just been instructed on the sale but I am unable to find my title documents. Is this a problem?

Don’t worry too much. First there is a possibility that the deeds will be retained by your mortgage company or they may still be with the lawyers who oversaw 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 solicitors obtaining current official copies of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Pound Hill relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your home is not registered it is more problematic but is resolvable.

My wife and I have organised the release of further monies on our home loan from Principality as we wish to carry out a loft conversion to our home in Pound Hill. Are we obliged to choose a high street Pound Hill solicitor on the Principality conveyancing panel to deal with the paperwork?

Principality would not normally require firms on their conveyancing panel to deal with such a matter. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Principality list.

I am buying a property in Pound Hill. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Skipton 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 Skipton your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing instructions contained in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Skipton. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook includes minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and lawyers are required to report to Skipton where a lease does not comply with these requirements. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not limited to Pound Hill.

I recently had an offer accepted on a house in Pound Hill. My mortgage broker recommended their conveyancers. I paid an advanced payment of £200. A couple of days later, the property lawyer contacted me to say that they were not on the Santander 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 Santander 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.

About to purchase a new build apartment in Pound Hill. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.

Here is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Pound Hill

Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose?

Looking forward to exchange soon on a leasehold property in Pound Hill. Conveyancing lawyers assured me that they report fully next week. What should I be looking out for?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Pound Hill should include some of the following:

Alterations to the property Whether the lease restricts you from renting out the flat, or working from home Responsibility for repairing the window frames Who has the liability to repair and maintain the building. It is important for you to know who is liable for the repair and maintenance of every part of the building Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property and do you know what it means in practice?

Pound Hill Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should consider before Purchasing

On the whole the cost for major works are not built into the maintenance charges, albeit that some managing agents in Pound Hill obliged leasehold owners to contribute towards a sinking fund and this is used to offset against larger works. You should be aware if it is fewer than 80 years it will impact the marketability of the property. Check with your lender that they are happy with the length of the lease. A short lease means that you will almost definitely require a lease extension at some point and you need to have some idea of what this will be. For most Pound Hilllease extensions you will be required to have been the owner of the premises for two years in order to be legally able to extend the lease. Many Pound Hill leasehold apartments will have a service charge for the upkeep of the block invoiced by the landlord. Where you purchase the apartment you will have to meet this contribution, normally quarterly accross the year. This can be anything from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built buildings. In all probability there will be a ground rent for you to pay yearly, normally this is not a significant amount, say approximately £25-£75 but you need to check as occasionally it can be many hundreds of pounds.