I understand that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Do I need chancel insurance when purchasing a house in Wantage? or Apparently there is a law dating back centuries that could mean that homeowners living in a parish church boundary may be liable to pay for maintenance towards the chancel within the church. Is this relevant for conveyancing in Wantage?

Unless a previous acquisition of the house completed post 12 October 2013 you could expect solicitors handling conveyancing in Wantage to continue to recommend a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

How does conveyancing in Wantage differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Wantage approach us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is constructed. This is because house builders in Wantage typically buy the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Wantage or who has acted in the same development.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on a fortnight ago in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Wantage is where the house is located. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Wantage are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Wantage you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Wantage may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.

We're novice buyers - agreed a price, yet the estate agent advised that the owners will only issue a contract if we appoint the agent's chosen conveyancers as they need a ‘quick sale’. Our preferred option is to instruct a family conveyancer with experience of conveyancing in Wantage

It is improbable the owners are behind this. Should the seller want ‘a quick sale', turning down a motivated purchaser is not the way to achieve this. Bypass the agents and go straight to the sellers and make the point that (a)you are keen to buy (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 are going to use your own,trusted Wantage conveyancing solicitors - not the ones that will earn the negotiator at the agency a commission or meet his conveyancing targets set by senior management.

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Wantage from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Wantage can be bypassed if you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation which will be required by the purchasers’ solicitors.
If there is a history of conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be warry about purchasing a flat where there is an ongoing dispute. You may have to bite the bullet and discharge 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 are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the buyers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as over as opposed to ongoing. If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s approval? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Wantage state that internal structural alterations or installing wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord consenting to such alterations. Where you dont have the approvals to hand do not communicate with the landlord without contacting your solicitor before hand. The majority of landlords or Management Companies in Wantage charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should discover the fee that they propose to charge. 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 obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most common cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Wantage.

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

Please tell me if there are any major works on the horizon that will increase the service charges? Is the freehold reversion owned collectively by the leaseholders? Does the lease have onerous restrictions?