I am not in a position to travel far from Steyning. I would like to know the reason why all Steyning lawyers aren't automatically on all bank panels?

Lenders point to the fact that solicitor-led fraud is thought to be responsible for millions of pounds of fraud every year.The elimination of law firms off of lender panels started with the rise in mortgage fraud, which prompted a thematic review by the FSA in 2011. Its conclusions included recommendations for lending institutions to review their conveyancing panels, which triggered a major policy change in the sector. It led to lenders removing less reputable firms from their official list of approved conveyancing practitioners .

Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to our property can not be found. The solicitors who conducted the conveyancing in Steyning 10 years ago are no longer around. What do I do?

Gone are the days when you need to hold title original deeds to prove you are the owner of your registered land or premises, as the Land Registry have everything they need in a digital format.

Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Steyning ahead of appointing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the property. Our surveyor has said that some mortgage companies may refuse to give a mortgage on such a premises.

It varies from the lender to lender. Santander has different instructions for example to Halifax. If you call us we can check via the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Steyning. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

In my capacity as executor for the estate of my grandfather I am disposing of a residence in Newport but reside in Steyning. My conveyancer (based 235 miles from mehas requested that I execute a statutory declaration before completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing practitioner in Steyning to attest this legal document for me?

Technically speaking you are unlikely to be required to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily or notary public or solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are Steyning based

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Steyning with the intention of speeding up the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Steyning can be bypassed where you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the buyers’ lawyers.
Many freeholders or Management Companies in Steyning levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should find out the actual amount of the charges. The management information can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Steyning. If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should make sure that you are holding the original share certificate. Organising a re-issued share certificate can be a time consuming process and frustrates many a Steyning home move. Where a new share certificate is necessary, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (where relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity. A minority of Steyning leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. Any bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their lawyers. If you have had any disputes with your landlord or managing agents it is essential that these are settled prior to the flat being put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where there is a current dispute. You may have to bite the bullet and pay any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as over as opposed to unresolved.

Steyning Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

What is the yearly service fee and ground rent? Is the freehold owned jointly by the tenants? It would be a good idea to investigate if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. For example it is reasonably common in Steyning leases that pets are not allowed in certain buildings in Steyning. If you like the propertyin Steyning but your cat can’t move with you then you will be faced difficult compromise.