Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Southend. My lender is Virgin

Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 23/9/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Should my lawyer be asking questions about flooding during the conveyancing in Southend.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for conveyancers dealing with homes in Southend. Some people will purchase a property in Southend, fully aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, satisfactory insurance cover, or dispose of the premises. There are steps that can be taken during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the purchaser.

Solicitors are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, however there are a numerous searches that may be carried out by the purchaser or by their solicitors which can give them a better appreciation of the risks in Southend. The conventional set of completed inquiry forms sent to a purchaser’s conveyancer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a standard question of the seller to discover if the premises has suffered from flooding. In the event that the premises has been flooded in past and is not disclosed by the owner, then a purchaser may commence a claim for damages as a result of such an incorrect reply. The buyer’s conveyancers will also conduct an enviro report. This should higlight if there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries will need to be made.

Is there anything unique about your site and other online quote calculators for conveyancing in Southend?

At this site secure a conveyancing costs illustration via a Solicitor or Licensed Conveyancer that understands the nuances for your conveyancing in Southend. As opposed to estate agents and many comparison sites we do not operate commission deals with solicitors. Many agents and online brokers 'recommend' solicitors paying the highest per referral, not the best value conveyancing in Southend

I've recently bought a leasehold flat in Southend. Am I liable to pay service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

Having spent months of negotiations we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Southend. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Southend conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Southend premises is 75 Woolstone Road in February 2012. the decision of the Tribunal was that the appropriate amount to be paid to purchase the freehold was the sum of £17,711 . This case affected 2 flats. The unexpired term was 68.28 and 158.

My plan is to purchase a ground floor flat in Southend. Conveyancing solicitor is waiting for, from the vendor, building insurance documents. I was told today I was informed that the owner needs to forward the insurance paperwork for the flat above also. Why does my property lawyer need to see the insurance for the other flat? Is it strictly necessary? We have been waiting for the previous 3 weeks…

It is not unheard of in leasehold conveyancing in Southend to find Conveyancing in Southend in a minority of cases reveals that the lease obliges the leasehold owners to insure their individual flats as opposed to the landlord insuring the entire property - which is definitely preferable. Do check with your conveyancer but it would appear that your conveyancing practitioner is attempting to establish that the whole building is insured. Insuring a ground floor flat is no help when it comes to rebuilding after a fire if the 1st floor cannot be reconstructed for lack of insurance.