We were just about to sign contracts for a garden flat in North Somerset. We have hit a problem. The loan offer with Skipton Building Society expires on 16/7/2026 but the owners are insisting on a completion date of 20/7/2026. Is it possible to extend the mortgage offer?
The person best placed to deal with your issue is your conveyancer who will hopefully determine if they corresponding with the mortgage company, vendor’s representatives, selling agents or conceivably all parties taking into account the circumstances your transaction to date.
I own a freehold residence in North Somerset yet pay rent, why is this and what is this?
It is rare for properties in North Somerset and has limited impact for conveyancing in North Somerset 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 establishment of new rentcharges post 1977.
Old rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 is to be extinguished.
Do the Building Society Association intend to launch a search tool with a view to list firms on the Melton Mowbray Building Society conveyancing panel for example in North Somerset?
We are not aware of any plans on the part of the BSA to develop such a search facility.
My wife and I are downsizing from our house in North Somerset and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being built on contaminated land. Any high street North Somerset lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers instructed an internet conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in North Somerset. We have lived in North Somerset for many years we know of no issue. Do we get in touch with our local Authority to get confirmation that there is no issue.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing lawyer currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You must check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same illness)
The deeds to our house can not be found. The lawyers who dealt with the conveyancing in North Somerset 5 years ago are no longer around. What are my options?
In today’s world there are copies made of almost everything, and your conveyancer should know exactly where to look for all the appropriate paperwork so you can buy or dispose of your property without any difficulty. Where duplicates are not available, your solicitor can put in place insurance or indemnities against possible claims on the property.
I opted to have a survey completed on a property in North Somerset prior to appointing solicitors. I have been told that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. Our surveyor advised that some lenders tend refuse to grant a mortgage on a flying freehold property.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Lloyds has different requirements from Nationwide. If you contact us we can check via the appropriate mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in North Somerset. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in North Somerset to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.