We see that you have a post code search directory listing firms on the HSBC conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a referral fee if I instruct them for our own conveyancing in Stonehouse?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the HSBC conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Stonehouse.

My wife and I have recently appointed a conveyancing solicitor in Stonehouse. I I would like to check whether they are on the Coventry Building Society approved list of lawyers. Can you or the lender confirm if they are on the panel?

You should phone your conveyancer and ask them if they are on the lender panel. Otherwise please call Coventry Building Society who may be able to confirm.

I'm buying my first flat in Stonehouse with a mortgage from Clydesdale. The developers would not reduce the price so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not reveal to my solicitor about this side-deal as it would put at risk my mortgage with Clydesdale. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

Do you have any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Stonehouse from the point of view of saving time on the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Stonehouse can be bypassed where you appoint lawyers as soon as your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to collate the leasehold information needed by the purchasers’ lawyers.
Many landlords or managing agents in Stonehouse charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the actual amount of the charges. The management pack can be applied for as soon as you have a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most usual cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Stonehouse. If you have had any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be nervous about purchasing a flat where a dispute is unsettled. You may need to swallow your pride and discharge any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. 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 details of the dispute to the buyers, but it is better to present the dispute as historic rather than unresolved. You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to verify this by asking your lawyers. 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 80 years. In the circumstances it is important at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale. If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s consent? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Stonehouse state that internal structural alterations or installing wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such works. Should you dont have the paperwork in place do not communicate with the landlord without contacting your solicitor first.

Stonehouse Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries before buying

The prefered form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this situation the leaseholders have control and notwithstanding that a managing agent is frequently retained where the building is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent employed by the leaseholders. Is the freehold reversion owned jointly by the leaseholders? It would be sensible to find out as much as possible concerning the managing agents as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you will be at the mercy of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to every day matters such as the cleanliness of the communal areas. Don't be shy to ask prospective neighbours if they are happy with them. Finally, be sure you understand the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the appropriate party and precisely how they are spending that money.

What can I do where I am unhappy with the property lawyer who did our conveyancing in Stonehouse?

We live in an imperfect world, and unfortunately sometimes matters do not go as planned. That being said there is recourse where you were unhappy with your conveyancing in Stonehouse. This varies from trying to resolve matters directly with them, through to reporting a conveyancing practitioner to their regulator. If things still aren’t resolved you may consider enlisting the help of the Legal Ombudsman.