I am acquiring a newly built duplex in Wolsingham and my conveyancer is telling me that she is duty bound to the mortgage company to disclose incentives from the developer. The Estate Agents are hassling me to exchange and I don't want to prolong deal. Is my lawyer right?

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

What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Wolsingham? Is this really necessary?

It is indeed that case that these requests have nothing to do with conveyancing in Wolsingham. However these days you will not be able to proceed with any conveyancing process without first supplying evidence of your identity. This usually takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence as well as a council tax bill. Remember if you are providing your driving licence as evidence of identification it needs to be both the paper section and photo card part, one is not sufficient in the absence of the other.

Proof of your origin of funds is necessary under Money Laundering Regulations. You should not be offended when when this is requested of you as your lawyer must retain this information on record. Your Wolsingham conveyancing practitioner will need to see evidence of proof of funds prior to accepting any money from you into their client account and they will also ask further questions regarding the source of funds.

Me and my brother have a renovated Georgian property in Wolsingham. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Barclays Direct. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold with the matching property. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You should read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Wolsingham and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also enquire as to the position with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the work.

I am buying a new build apartment in Wolsingham. Conveyancing is a frightening process 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 conveyancing.

Here is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Wolsingham

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? Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose?

I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a two maisonettes in Wolsingham which have in the region of fifty years left on the leases. Do I need to be concerned?

There are plenty of short leases in Wolsingham. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the premises for a period of time. As the lease gets shorter the marketability of the lease decreases and it becomes more expensive to acquire a lease extension. This is why it is generally wise to extend the lease term. More often than not it is difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage companies may be unwilling to lend money on such properties. Lease extension can be a protracted process. We recommend you seek professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this area.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Wolsingham - Sample of Queries Prior to buying

Its a good idea to discover as much as possible regarding the company managing the block 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 both financially and when it comes to practical matters like the tidiness of the communal areas. Don't be afraid to ask prospective neighbours if they are happy with them. 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. Does the lease contain onerous restrictions? Who is in charge of the block?