Recently contacted my conveyancing lawyer in Sittingbourne who completed the legal work 18 months ago requesting a conveyancing estimate based on the same type of house move (a leasehold residence and a freehold premises) of almost identical values with a home loan from . I am now being charged twice the amount. Am I right to be tempted to shop around for a cheaper internet property lawyer?

The charges seem a tad high. If you shop around you might decrease the fees marginally by as much as £100 plus VAT. That being said, if you were satisfied with the service the firm offered you maycome to rue opting for an an unknown solicitor. Don't forget to enquire the conveyancer can also act for . Do utilise our search tool to get a quote a Sittingbourne conveyancing firm on the approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Sittingbourne.

My god-son is about to exchange on a new build apartment in Sittingbourne with a mortgage from . His conveyancer has advised him of a delay in completing the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. Who needs to receive the form?

The document is intended to provide information to the main parties involved in the purchase. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when asked. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

Will our solicitor be raising questions about flooding as part of the conveyancing in Sittingbourne.

Flooding is a growing risk for conveyancers dealing with homes in Sittingbourne. Some people will purchase a property in Sittingbourne, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical destruction, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, suitable building insurance, or dispose of the premises. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.

Solicitors are not best placed to give advice on flood risk, but there are a various checks that may be undertaken by the purchaser or by their conveyancers which should give them a better understanding of the risks in Sittingbourne. The standard completed inquiry forms given to a buyer’s conveyancer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) contains a standard inquiry of the seller to determine if the premises has historically flooded. In the event that flooding has previously occurred and is not notified by the vendor, then a buyer may bring a claim for damages as a result of such an incorrect answer. A buyer’s lawyers may also conduct an enviro report. This will higlight whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, further investigations will need to be made.

I was advised by three or four local estate agents in Sittingbourne to get a quote from a property lawyer using your seach tool. Is there a financial upside for Estate Agents to offer your lawyers over and above another?

We refuse to give any financial incentive for sending work our way. We found it would be just too difficult a fee because home movers will think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

Sittingbourne Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

How much is the annual maintenance fee and ground rent? It would be prudent to investigate if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. For example plenty of leases prohibit pets being permitted in certain buildings in Sittingbourne. If you love the apartmentin Sittingbourne yet your dog can’t live with you then you have a very hard choice. Where a Sittingbourne lease has less than eighty years it will impact the value of the flat. Check with your lender that they are content with the length of the lease. Leases with fewer than 80 years remaining means that you will almost definitely need a lease extension sooner rather than later and you need to have some idea of what this will be. For most Sittingbournelease extensions you would be required to have been the owner of the premises for 24 months in order to be legally able to exercise a lease extension.