Last June we completed a house move in Southwick. We have since encountered a number of problems with the house which we believe were omitted in the conveyancing searches. Is there anything we can do? What searches should? have been carried out for conveyancing in Southwick?

It is not clear from the question as what problems have arisen and if they are relate to conveyancing in Southwick. Conveyancing searches and due diligence undertaken as part of the buying process are designed to help avoid problems. As part of the process, a seller answers a form referred to as a Seller’s Property Information Form. answers ends up being misleading, then you may have a claim against the owner for any losses that you have suffered. The survey should have identified any problems with the structure of the property. Assuming a detailed survey was carried out and the issues were not identified, you may have a claim against the surveyor. However, if you did not have a full survey, you may be responsible for fixing any defects that have now been noted. We would always encourage buyers to take every possible step to ensure they are completely aware of the condition of a property before purchase regardless of whether they are buying in Southwick.

My flat in Southwick is up for sale and I have a purchaser. Does my conveyancing practitioner have to be on the Co-operative conveyancing panel in order to deal with the discharge of my mortgage?

Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Co-operative conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. It might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their panel criteria fairly frequently at the moment.

How difficult is it to switch conveyancer as I need to choose one who is on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel. I was using a local conveyancing solicitor in Southwick five minutes from me but the firm is not accepted by Clydesdale

It would be our pleasure to assist you find a conveyancing solicitor in Southwick on the Clydesdale panel. Please note that the conveyancers that we work with do not pay us commission if you instruct them and are fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority who regulate all conveyancing solicitors in Southwick. In utilising search facility on this site, you can contrast fees for conveyancing solicitors in Southwick and beyond.

I want to let out my leasehold flat in Southwick. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Is permission from the freeholder required?

Even though your previous Southwick conveyancing solicitor is no longer around you can review your lease to see if you are permitted to let out the premises. The rule is that if the deeds are silent, subletting is permitted. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you need to seek permission via your landlord or some other party before subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet in the absence of first obtaining permission. Such consent must not not be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If the lease prohibits you from letting out the property you should ask your landlord if they are willing to waive this restriction.

I own a 2 bed flat in Southwick, conveyancing was carried out 10 years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Southwick with a long lease are worth £180,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £65 levied per year. The lease terminates on 21st October 2084

With just 59 years left to run the likely cost is going to be between £20,900 and £24,200 plus costs.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs without more comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional issues that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward placing reliance on this information without first getting professional advice.

I need to review costs for conveyancing in Southwick from various conveyancer and choose one. Am I right to ask them to sit tight until I I have an offer accepted on a flat.

We suggest that you wait to get your solicitor to start work and apply for searches once the sales memo has been issued by the estate agent especially as Southwick conveyancing searches are a couple of hundred pounds.