I am acquiring a new build flat in Winterbourne and my lawyer is telling me that she has to the bank to disclose incentives from the developer. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to sign contracts and my preference is not to delay deal. is my lawyer playing by the book?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your conveyancing practitioner. A precondition to being on a bank panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

Is it necessary to pay for insurance to cover chancel repairs when buying a house in Winterbourne?

Unless a prior acquisition of the house took place after 12 October 2013 you could take it that solicitors carrying out conveyancing in Winterbourne to continue to suggest a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build flat in Winterbourne. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Set out below is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Winterbourne

Please supply a car parking plan. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company?

In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my business premises in Winterbourne and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act gives security of tenure to commercial tenants, granting the legal entitlement to apply to court for a new lease and continue in occupation at the end of an expired lease. There are limited grounds that a landlord can refrain from granting a lease renewal and the rules are involved. Fees are different for commercial conveyancing. Winterbourne is one of our many areas of the UK in which the firms we work with have offices

My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Winterbourne. Conveyancing and Aldermore mortgage are in place. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the freehold. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing practitioner in Winterbourne who acted for me is not around. Any advice?

First contact HMLR to be sure that this person is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to instruct a Winterbourne conveyancing lawyer to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for £3. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Winterbourne Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to buying

It would be prudent to find out as much as you can about the company managing the building as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. As the proprietor of a leasehold property you are often at the mercy of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to day to day issues like the upkeep of the communal areas. Enquire of prospective neighbours if they are happy with their service. On a final note, find out the dates that the maintenance fees are due to the appropriate party and specifically what you get for your money. What is the the remaining lease term? Who is in charge of the block?