I own a freehold house in Handforth yet charged rent, why is this and what is this?
It’s unusual for properties in Handforth and has limited impact for conveyancing in Handforth 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 many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of fresh rentcharges post 1977.
Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be dispensed with completely.
I am assisting my step-mother sell her property in Handforth. Will the solicitor order an energy performance certificate or do I organise this?
Following the abolition of Home Packs, energy assessments was retained a mandatory part of selling a house. An EPC needs to be to hand before the property is marketed. This is not as aspect of the sale process that solicitors ordinarily organise. Where you are instructing a Handforth conveyancing practitioner they may help arrange energy performance certificates given their relationships with long established local assessors
How can we tell if a Handforth conveyancing solicitor on the Nationwide panel is any good?
When it comes to conveyancing in Handforth getting recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always suggest that you speak with the lawyer conducting your transaction.
We expect to receive a OIP from RBS this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do RBS recommend any Handforth solicitors on the RBS conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?
You will need to appoint Handforth solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the RBS conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and RBS through the process.
Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to our home can not be found. The solicitors who handled the conveyancing in Handforth 10 years ago are no longer around. What are my options?
You no longer need to have the physical official documentation to prove you own the land or property, as the Land Registry hold details of all registered land or property electronically.
Given that I will soon spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on 3 bedroom house in Handforth I would like to talk to a lawyer about myhouse move ahead of instructing the firm. Can this be arranged?
We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you first talking to the conveyancer due to be carrying out your property ownership legalities in Handforth.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is an important person, not a case reference. The solicitors that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are calculated and presented to you for residential conveyancing in Handforth should be the amount on the final invoice that you end up paying.
In my capacity as executor for the will of my grandmother I am disposing of a house in Swansea but live in Handforth. My conveyancer (based 250 miles from merequires that I sign a stat dec prior to the transaction finalising. Could you suggest a conveyancing solicitor in Handforth who can attest this legal document for me?
Technically speaking you are unlikely to need to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily any notary public or qualified solicitor will be fine regardless of whether they are Handforth based
I've recently bought a leasehold house in Handforth. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?
In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
Leasehold Conveyancing in Handforth - Sample of Questions you should consider before Purchasing
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Is there a share of the freehold? Does the lease include onerous restrictions? Is anyone aware of any major works anticipated that could add a premium to the service costs?