I was referred a lawyer who has quoted £1400 for no sale no fee conveyancing in Ramsgate. I’m hoping to downsize from a Victorian property for £250,000. Are these conveyancing fees excessive? Is it in excess of what I should be paying for conveyancing in Ramsgate?

The charges are a tad high. If you shop around you could get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by as much as £100 plus VAT. On the other hand, you mightlive to rue choosing an an unknown solicitor. If is important to ensure the firm can represent your lender. Do utilise our search tool to find a Ramsgate conveyancing practice on the lender’s member panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Ramsgate.

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

It’s unusual for properties in Ramsgate and has limited impact for conveyancing in Ramsgate 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 date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of fresh rentcharges post 1977.

Previous rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be extinguished.

How does conveyancing in Ramsgate differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Ramsgate contact us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is finished. This is because developers in Ramsgate tend to acquire the real estate, 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 Ramsgate or who has acted in the same development.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed apartment in Ramsgate. Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon, however I have just had a quarterly service charge demand – what should I do?

The sensible thing to do is clear the invoice as normal given that all rents and service payments will be allotted on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

I bought a garden flat in Ramsgate, conveyancing formalities finalised in 2008. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Comparable properties in Ramsgate with over 90 years remaining are worth £181,000. The ground rent is £55 yearly. The lease ends on 21st October 2075

With 50 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £32,300 and £37,400 as well as costs.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive investigations. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other issues that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information without first getting professional advice.

I am in the process of purchasing my 1st home in Ramsgate. Conveyancing lawyer has been selected. The broker advised that a survey is not appropriate as the house was only built 22 years ago.

At the very least you should order a Home Buyer's Report. As the premises was built over a decade ago the property will not come with a warranty, so you would be well advised not to take a risk. Where a property of this age shows no signs of problems a Home Buyer's report could be sufficient. The report should highlight any apparent problems and recommend further investigation if appropriate. If there are any signs of material issues get a comprehensive structural survey.