We are about to complete on the purchase of a property in Saltdean but as a result of wreckage from the recent storms I have managed to agree reparation from the owner of £3k in the form of a adjustment in the price. I had intended this to be addressed as part of the conveyancing process yet HSBC are not allowing this. Why were they notified?
Any lawyer that is on a HSBC approved list is obliged to advise HSBC of any changes to the sale price. If you prohibit your lawyer to disclose the reduction to HSBC then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, HSBC and you would have to appoint a new conveyancing practitioner for your conveyancing in Saltdean.
I have been told that property searches are a common reason for delay in Saltdean house deals. Is this right?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published findings of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the common causes of hindrances in the conveyancing process. Local searches are not likely to feature in any slowing down conveyancing in Saltdean.
I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and found one round the corner in Saltdean I like with amenity areas and railway links nearby, however it's only got 52 years on the lease. There is not much else in Saltdean for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?
If you require a mortgage that many years may be an issue. Reduce the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor about this.
I was recommended by a few selling agents in Saltdean to choose a solicitor using your seach tool. What’s the financial inducement for Estate Agents to promote your services ahead of a competitor’s?
We don’t make any financial incentive for pointing buyers and sellers to this site. We thought it would be too underhand a fee because home movers will think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.
Should I use a Saltdean conveyancing lawyer based in the location that I am purchasing? We have a good friend who can deal with the legal formalities but his firm is located over three hundred miles drive away.
The benefit of a high street Saltdean conveyancing practice is that you can pop in to sign paperwork, deliver your ID and pester them if necessary. They will also have local insight which is a benefit. That being said it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust used your friend and they were impressed that should trump using an unknown Saltdean conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being Saltdean based.
Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my ground floor apartment in Saltdean. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed, but I have recently received a yearly maintenance charge invoice – what should I do?
It best that you clear the maintenance contribution as usual given that all rents and maintenance payments will be apportioned on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.
Saltdean Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should ask before Purchasing
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How much is the maintenance charge and ground rent on the flat? On the whole the outlay for major works are not included within service charges, although a few managing agents in Saltdean obliged leaseholders to contribute towards a sinking fund created for the specific intention of building a fund for major repairs or maintenance. How is the lease structured?