I am getting a mortgage with Halifax. I hope to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer in Selsey. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel include conveyancers regulated by the CLC?

The Halifax approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

Finally the sale completed on my house in Selsey last November yet the purchaser is texting me complaining that her lawyer is waiting to hear from mine. What should have happened now that I have sold?

Post completion of your house sale your solicitor is duty bound to forward the transfer documentation and all additional paperwork to the buyer’s conveyancer. Where relevant, your lawyer should also send confirmation that the mortgage has been discharged to the buyers conveyancers. There are no post completion steps specific conveyancing in Selsey.

I have a semi-detached Georgian house in Selsey. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and HSBC Bank. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same property. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Selsey and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also check the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the purchase.

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Selsey from the perspective of expediting the sale process?

• Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Selsey can be reduced where you get in touch lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold information needed by the buyers’ representatives.
If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should make sure that you hold the original share certificate. Arranging a new share certificate can be a time consuming process and slows down many a Selsey conveyancing deal. If a new share certificate is necessary, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity. If there is a history of conflict with your landlord or managing agents it is very important that these are resolved prior to the flat being put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be nervous about purchasing a flat where there is a current dispute. You will have to accept that you will have to pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as over rather than ongoing. Many landlords or Management Companies in Selsey levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the actual amount of the charges. The management information sought as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most frequent reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Selsey.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Selsey - Sample of Queries Prior to Purchasing

Make sure you discover if the the lease includes any unreasonable restrictions in the lease. For example it is fairly common in Selsey leases that pets are not permitted in in a block in Selsey. If you love the apartmentin Selsey but your cat is not allowed to make the move with you then you will be presented with a difficult determination. What is the length of the lease? What is the name of the managing agents?

When it comes to my conveyancing in Selsey should I be paying VAT on the following: (1) Land reg fee on purchase (2) Pre - completion search fee (3) SDLT E submission on purchase (4) Bank TT fee

(1) Land reg fee on purchase - No (2) Pre - completion search fees -No, (such conveyancing searches are HMLR ones and means £4 and possibly £2 bankruptcy per name on your mortgage) (3) SDLT E submission on your purchase - There is no VAT on Stamp Duty. However if the firm is charging a stamp duty e-submission fee as part of their services - some Selsey conveyancers do - that will incur VAT(4) Bank transfer fee - Yes it is for the conveyancing practitioner's time in submitting the funds this way.