Do lenders provide you with an approved list of West Sussex conveyancing solicitors? How do you know who is on the HSBC conveyancing panel?

West Sussex conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the HSBC conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from HSBC directly.

About to purchase a new build flat in West Sussex. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.

Here are examples of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in West Sussex

There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal.

I have been advised by a few estate agents in West Sussex to choose a property lawyer on your site. Is there a financial upside for Estate Agents to promote your services ahead of a competitor’s?

We don’t give any referral fee for directing people our way. 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 aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

I am looking for a conveyancing practitioner in West Sussex for my house move. Is there any facility to review a solicitor's complaints history with the legal regulator?

Anyone may find presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from inquisitions from 2008 onwards. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For details Pre 2008, or to check a solicitors record, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For callers outside the UK, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA sometimes recorded telephone calls for training reasons.

Should one remove a departed person's details from the title deeds for a property in West Sussex?

If a West Sussex property is jointly owned and one of the owners passes away, their name will not automatically be removed from the title deeds. You are not required to remove their name as in the event of a disposal your lawyer would simply need to supply proof as to the reason the other proprietor is missing from the contract, such as the probate documents.

With the aim of making the sale conveyancing more straight forward for the sale of the property you may arrange to have the deceased name removed from the title by submitting an application to the land registry with evidence of the death. There is no charge from the Registry for this service.