We are a couple about to sign contracts for a garden flat in Minehead. We have hit a stumbling block. The loan offer with Nottingham Building Society runs out on 13/4/2026 but the owners are insisting on a completion date of 15/4/2026. Is it possible to prolong the mortgage offer?
The best person to deal with your issue is your lawyer who will hopefully assess if they corresponding with the lender, seller’s conveyancers, property agents or conceivably all parties taking into account the history of your conveyancing as of today.
Are the BSA planning on creating a search tool with a view to to identify law firms on the Darlington Building Society conveyancing panel for instance in Minehead?
We are not aware of any intention on the part of the BSA to develop such a register.
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Minehead?
Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Minehead. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
How does conveyancing in Minehead differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build property in Minehead come to us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is completed. This is because developers in Minehead usually buy the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Minehead or who has acted in the same development.
I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £235,500 and identified one round the corner in Minehead I like with amenity areas and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 52 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Minehead for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?
Should you require a mortgage that many years will likely be an issue. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you could request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.
I am an executor of my recently deceased mum’s Will, with a property in Minehead which is to be marketed. The house has never been registered at the Land Registry and I'm told that many purchasers will insist that it is in place before they will proceed. What's the procedure for this?
In the situation that you have set out it seems advisable to seek to register in the names of the personal representative(s) as named in the probate and in their capacity as PRs. The Land Registry’s online guidance explains how to register for the first time and what is required re the deeds and forms. You would need to include and certified copy of the probate as well and complete the form FR1 to refer to the PRs as the applicant.