Our family solicitor has sent a quote for £1150 for fixed fee conveyancing in Halifax. I’m looking to sell a Edwardian detached home for £275,000. This seems expensive. Is it in excess of the norm for conveyancing in Halifax?
The charges are a little high. Where you are willing to expend time scrutinising charges you may be able to shave off some of the expense by perhaps £100 plus VAT. That being said, you mightlive to regret choosing an an unknown solicitor. If is important to ensure that the firm can represent your mortgage company. You can use our search tool to locate a Halifax conveyancing company on the lender’s member panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Halifax.
Me and my wife are acquiring our first property. Our solicitor has e-mailedto check if we wish to take out extra conveyancing searches. As novices we in the dark as to what's needed for conveyancing in Halifax
The extent of Halifax conveyancing searches should be triggered based entirely on the premises, the location, the likelihood of any of these risks, your familiarity of the locality and risks, your overall attitude to risk. What is important is that you properly appreciate what information each search could provide. Then you can make a decision if you consider that you need that information. Where you are in doubt, ask your property lawyer to guide you.
I own a freehold premises in Halifax yet invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?
It is rare for properties in Halifax and has limited impact for conveyancing in Halifax but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.
Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of fresh rentcharges from 1977 onwards.
Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence after 2037 will be extinguished.
Will our solicitor be making enquiries regarding flooding as part of the conveyancing in Halifax.
Flooding is a growing risk for conveyancers carrying out conveyancing in Halifax. There are those who purchase a house in Halifax, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical destruction, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, suitable building insurance, or dispose of the property. Steps can be carried out during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the buyer.
Conveyancers are not best placed to give advice on flood risk, however there are a number of searches that can be undertaken by the purchaser or by their conveyancers which will give them a better appreciation of the risks in Halifax. The conventional set of information sent to a buyer’s solicitor (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a standard inquiry of the vendor to find out whether the premises has suffered from flooding. In the event that flooding has previously occurred and is not disclosed by the vendor, then a buyer could bring a compensation claim as a result of such an inaccurate response. The buyer’s solicitors will also carry out an environmental report. This should reveal whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, more detailed investigations will need to be conducted.
It has been four months since my purchase conveyancing in Halifax concluded. I have checked the Land Registry site which shows that I paid £175,000 when infact I paid £215,000. Why the discrepancy?
The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the residence from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.
Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 68 years left on my flat in Halifax. I now wish to get lease extension but my freeholder is missing. What are my options?
If you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be lengthened by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you have used your best endeavours to track down the freeholder. On the whole a specialist would be helpful to conduct investigations and prepare a report which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer in relation to devolving into the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Halifax.
I own a studio flat in Halifax, conveyancing having been completed half a dozen years ago. How much will my lease extension cost? Equivalent properties in Halifax with over 90 years remaining are worth £260,000. The ground rent is £45 invoiced annually. The lease terminates on 21st October 2099
With 74 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £8,600 and £9,800 as well as legals.
The figure above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to advice on the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.