We're in St Albans, FTBs buying with a mortgage (lender is Kent Reliance , and our solicitor is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no solicitor 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.
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified during conveyancing in St Albans?
Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in St Albans. 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…’
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. St Albans is the location of the property. Is there any guidance you can give?
Flying freeholds in St Albans are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in St Albans you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in St Albans may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.
I'm remortgaging my existing house to a buy to let mortgage with Birmingham Midshires and intend to use the remaining equity as a down payment on another property. The location we are talking about is St Albans. Will your solicitors be able to act for the two lenders and tie in the transactions?
Do use our comparison tool on this page to ensure that the conveyancers are on the relevant lender panels. On the basis that they are the solicitor should be able to simultaneously deal with the two transactions but you should talk with you lawyer and make clear your desired outcome and requirements.
My brother has encouraged me to instruct his conveyancers in St Albans. Should I use them?
There are no two ways about it the ideal way to select a conveyancing lawyer is to have feedback from friends or family who have actually previously instructed the solicitor that you are are thinking of instructing.
I have just started marketing my basement flat in St Albans. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed, but I have just received a yearly maintenance charge demand – what should I do?
It best that you clear the service charge as normal given that all ground rent and service invoices will be allotted 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 management companies will not acknowledge the buyer unless 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.
St Albans Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Questions you should consider before buying
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How is the lease structured? Who are the managing agents? What is the yearly service fee and ground rent?