I was referred a solicitor who has quoted £1200 for no sale no fee conveyancing in Birmingham. I’m hoping to downsize from a purpose built property for £275,000. This appears over the top. Is it above what I should be paying for conveyancing in Birmingham?
The estimate does seem a tad steep. If you shop around you may be able to reduce the fees slightly by say a hundred pounds. That being said, you maycome to rue choosing an a cheaper conveyancer. Remember to check that the solicitor can act for your mortgage company. You can use our search tool to select a Birmingham conveyancing firm on the lender’s conveyancing panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Birmingham.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Birmingham. My lender is Bank of Ireland
Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 10/11/2024, the requirements read as follows :
Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Birmingham before instructing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. My surveyor advised that some mortgage companies will refuse to issue a mortgage on such a premises.
It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different instructions for example to Nationwide. Should you wish to telephone us we can check via the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Birmingham. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Birmingham especially if they are acquainted with such properties in Birmingham.
What does commercial conveyancing in Birmingham cover?
Non domestic conveyancing in Birmingham incorporates a broad range of advice, offered by qualified solicitors, relating to business property. By way of example, this type of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more usually, the assignment of existing leases or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial loans and the termination of tenancies.
I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing practitioner in Birmingham for my purchase. Can I check a firm’s record with the legal regulator?
Anyone may read published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For information Pre 2008, or to check a solicitors history, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For non-uk callers, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator may recorded telephone calls for training reasons.
Do you have any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Birmingham from the perspective of expediting the sale process?
- A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Birmingham can be bypassed if you get in touch lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to put together the leasehold information which will be required by the buyers’ solicitors. Some Birmingham leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, you should place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers obtain financial (bank) and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers. In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s approval? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Birmingham leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. Should you fail to have the approvals to hand you should not contact the landlord without contacting your conveyancer before hand. You may think that you are aware of the number of years remaining on your lease but you should verify this by asking your solicitors. A purchaser's conveyancer will not be happy to advise their client to to exchange contracts if the lease term is below 80 years. It is therefore essential at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease term requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale. If you have had conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where there is an ongoing dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to completion of the sale. 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 details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as historic rather than unresolved.
Birmingham Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing
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Who is in charge of the block? You should want to discover as much as you can concerning the managing agents as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. As the owner of a leasehold property you will be at the mercy of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to day to day issues such as the cleanliness of the communal areas. Ask prospective neighbours what they think of them. On a final note, investigate as to the dates that the maintenance fees are due to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money.