I plan on acquiring property in Seaford. My Solicitor is not listed on the mortgage company approved panel. Am I still permitted to continue with my Seaford conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the lender list of approved lawyers?

You have numerous options open to you here

• Proceed with your existing Seaford lawyer but your bank will undoubtedly instruct a conveyancer on their conveyancing panel. This will result in additional cost together with likely delay.
• Get a new conveyancing practitioner to conduct the conveyancing, obviously checking they are on the lender conveyancing panel.
• Convince your property lawyer to do everything within their powers to get listed on the lender’s conveyancing panel

I just acquired a property at auction in Seaford. Conveyancing is needed. What is next?

Given that you are now to all intents and purposes signed on the dotted line you should hire the services of a conveyancing practitioner soon as you are facing a fast approaching a fixed date to complete the property. An auction property will ordinarily have a bespoke auction set of papers. This should include the copy title deeds, local authority and drainage searches. In the case of leasehold premises the auction papers should include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing documentation specific to a leasehold property. You should give this to your appointed conveyancing solicitor at the earliest opportunity. Do make sure that that you have the requisite funding organised to complete on the date specified in the contract.

Is it the case that all Seaford conveyancing solicitors on the Aldermore conveyancing panel are overseen by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?

As solicitors, in order to be on the Aldermore conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. The majority of lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such organisation would be governed by the CLC.

I am expecting a AIP from UBS this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do UBS recommend any Seaford solicitors on the UBS conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?

You will need to appoint Seaford solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the UBS conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and UBS through the process.

I am buying a new build house in Seaford with a mortgage from TSB. The sellers would not move on the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The property agent suggested that I not inform my solicitor about the side-deal as it may adversely affect my loan with the lender. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I am looking into buying my first house which is in Seaford and I am already nervous. I couldn't find anything specific about Seaford. Conveyancing will be needed in due course but do you know about the Seaford area? or perhaps some other tips you can share?

Rather than looking online forget looking online you should go and have a look at Seaford. In the meantime here are some basic statistics that we found

I've found a house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a great figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have just discovered that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns buying a house with a leasehold title in Seaford. Conveyancing solicitors have not yet been instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Seaford are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Seaford in which case you should be looking for a Seaford conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions such as obtaining the landlord’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your lawyer should advise you fully on all the issues.

Seaford Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries Prior to buying

How much is the maintenance charge and ground rent on the apartment? How long is the Lease? The prefered form of lease structure is where the freehold interest is in the ownership of the leaseholders. In this scenario the tenants benefit from being in charge if their destiny and even though a managing agent is usually retained where the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants.