I am acquiring a house for cash in Rotherhithe. I have lived for the last 15 years in Rotherhithe. Conveyancing searches are a lot of money. Given that I have knowledge of the road and vicinity intimately should I not bother getting the solicitor to do all the conveyancing searches?

In the absence of a mortgage, then all but one or two of the Rotherhithe conveyancing searches are non-obligatory. Your lawyer will 'advise', no-doubt strongly, that you should have searches done, but she is duty bound to do this. Do bear in mind; if you are going to sell the house one day, it could be of interest to your prospective purchaser what the searches contain. There are plenty of instances where houses with functional issues can still reveal unfavourable search results. A good conveyancing solicitor in Rotherhithe should be able to give you some constructive advice here.

I own a freehold premises in Rotherhithe but nevertheless charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in Rotherhithe and has limited impact for conveyancing in Rotherhithe 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 establishment of new rentcharges post 1977.

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

I am buying a right to buy a flat in Rotherhithe. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Rotherhithe you will have to appoint a solicitor on your lender's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Rotherhithe.

Have purchased a a semi-detached house in Rotherhithe , how long will it take for the Land Registry to deal with the formalities evidencing the transfer to my name? My Rotherhithe conveyancing solicitor works at snail pace, so I want to check that my name is registered.

There is nothing unique when it comes to conveyancing in Rotherhithe registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timeframes can vary according to who lodges the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry communicate with any interested parties. Currently approximately three quarters of such applications are fully addressed within two weeks but occasionally there can be extensive hold-ups. Registration is effected after the purchaser has moved in to the property thus an expedited registration is not usually top priority yet where it is urgent that the the registration takes place urgently then you or your conveyancer could contact the land registry and explain the circumstances.

Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a studio apartment in Rotherhithe. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they are sending me a report on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

An explanation concerning the obligations as set out in the lease to pay service charges - in respect of the block, and the more general rights a lessee enjoys The length of the lease term. You should receive guidance as what happens when the lease expires, and informed of the importance of the 80 year mark You should be told what counts as a Nuisance as far as the lease is concerned Repair and maintenance of the premises Who has the liability for repairing the window frames

For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Rotherhithe please enquire of your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in Rotherhithe.

I inherited a split level flat in Rotherhithe, conveyancing was carried out 3 years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Comparable properties in Rotherhithe with a long lease are worth £165,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 yearly. The lease terminates on 21st October 50

With just 50 years left to run the likely cost is going to range between £36,100 and £41,800 plus professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide a more accurate figure without more comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information 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. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first getting professional advice.