We're in Penistone, First timers buying with a mortgage (lender is UBS , and our lawyer is on the UBS conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the UBS conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancing practitioner should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.
I purchased a 4 bedroom Edwardian house in Penistone. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Clydesdale. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?
You need to assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Penistone and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who carried out the work.
How does conveyancing in Penistone differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Penistone come to us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is constructed. This is because new home sellers in Penistone typically buy the land, 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 Penistone or who has acted in the same development.
What makes your site different to other online quote calculators for conveyancing in Penistone?
At this site receive a fixed fee costs illustration via a Solicitor or Licensed Conveyancer that has a full understanding of the nuances for your conveyancing in Penistone. Unlike many estate agents and brokerage sites we are not in the business of charging firms a fee if you instruct them for your home move in Penistone
I've recently bought a leasehold house in Penistone. 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 Penistone - Sample of Queries Prior to buying
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The best form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this scenario the lessees have being in charge if their destiny and although a managing agent is often employed if the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants. Best to be warned if redecorating or some other major work is due shortly to be shared amongst the leasehold owners and will dramatically impact the level of the service charges or necessitate a one time invoice. Plenty Penistone leasehold apartments will have a service bill for maintenance of the block set on behalf of the management company. Where you purchase the apartment you will have to meet this amount, usually in instalments during the year. This can vary from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large common grounds. In all probability there will be a ground rent for you to pay annual, this is usually not a large figure, say around £50-£100 but you need to enquire it because occasionally it can be prohibitively expensive.
What are my options where I am unhappy with the solicitor who handled my conveyancing in Penistone?
We live in an imperfect world, and unfortunately every so often things do go wrong. That being said there is recourse where you were unhappy with your conveyancing in Penistone. This varies from trying to resolve matters directly with them, through to reporting a solicitor to their regulator. If things still aren’t sorted out you may consider getting in touch with the Legal Ombudsman.