What is the first thing I need to know regarding purchase conveyancing in Stokenchurch?

Not many law firms or advisers will tell you this but conveyancing in Stokenchurch and elsewhere in England and Wales is an adversarial process. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there is an abundance of room for confrontation between you and other parties involved in the home moving process. For instance, the vendor, selling agent and sometimes a lender. Choosing a law firm for your conveyancing in Stokenchurch should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the SOLE person in the transaction whose responsibility is to protect your best interests and to protect you.

There is a definite ongoing adversarial element to conveyancing- someone has to be at fault for the process being so protracted. We recommend that you your first instinct should be to trust your lawyer above all other players in the conveyancing process.

Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Stokenchurch prior to instructing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. Our surveyor has said that some banks tend not issue a loan on this type of house.

It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different requirements for example to Nationwide. Should you wish to call us we can investigate further with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Stokenchurch. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

I was recommended by three or four local property agents in Stokenchurch to select a property lawyer using your seach tool. Is there a financial upside for Estate Agents to promote your services over and above a competitor’s?

We don’t give any commission for directing people in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult a fee because members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.

My husband and I are novice buyers - agreed a price, yet the property agent advised that the owners will only move forward if we appoint their preferred solicitors as they want a ‘quick sale’. My instinct tells me that we should use a family solicitor used to conveyancing in Stokenchurch

It is improbable the sellers are behind this. If they desire ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a genuine purchaser is counter productive. Avoid the agents and go straight to the sellers and make sure they understand (a)you are genuine purchasers (b)you are excited to move forward, with mortgage lined up © you do not need to sell (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you will continue to appoint your preferred Stokenchurch conveyancing firm - not the ones that will provide their estate agent a commission or meet his conveyancing targets pre-set by corporate headquarters.

Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Stokenchurch from the perspective of expediting the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Stokenchurch can be avoided where you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start advertising the property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ representatives.
If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s approval? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Stokenchurch leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or addition of wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord approving such works. If you fail to have the consents in place you should not contact the landlord without checking with your lawyer before hand. If there is a history of 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 an ongoing dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and pay any arrears of service charge or resolve 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 will still have to reveal details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as historic as opposed to unresolved. You may think that you are aware of the number of years remaining on your lease but you should verify this by asking your conveyancers. A purchaser's conveyancer will not be happy to advise their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the remaining number of years is under 75 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an early stage that you identify whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

Stokenchurch Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries Prior to buying

Who manages the building? For many Stokenchurch leaseholds the outlay for major works tend not to be included within maintenance charges, although some managing agents in Stokenchurch obliged leasehold owners to contribute towards a sinking fund created for the specific purpose of building a fund for major repairs or maintenance. How is the lease structured?