It is a dozen years since I purchased my property in St Ives. Conveyancing lawyers have now been instructed on the sale but I can't find the deeds. Is this a major issue?
You need not be too concerned. Firstly there is a possibility that the deeds will be with the lender or they may be archived with the lawyers who oversaw the purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the land will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors procuring current official copies of the land registers. Most conveyancing in St Ives relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your home is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is not insurmountable.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in St Ives. My lender is Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 1/4/2026, the requirements read as follows :
Should my lawyer be making enquiries concerning flooding during the conveyancing in St Ives.
The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for conveyancers specialising in conveyancing in St Ives. Plenty of people will purchase a property in St Ives, completely expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical destruction, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, satisfactory building insurance, or dispose of the premises. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.
Lawyers are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a various checks that can be initiated by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which will figure out the risks in St Ives. The conventional set of property information forms supplied to a buyer’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) incorporates a standard question of the vendor to determine if the premises has suffered from flooding. In the event that flooding has previously occurred which is not revealed by the owner, then a buyer could commence a claim for damages stemming from an misleading reply. A buyer’s solicitors should also commission an environmental report. This should reveal if there is any known flood risk. If so, further inquiries will need to be initiated.
I decided to have a survey completed on a property in St Ives in advance of instructing conveyancers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor advised that some mortgage companies may refuse to give a mortgage on a flying freehold home.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different instructions from Birmingham Midshires. If you e-mail us we can investigate further with the appropriate bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in St Ives. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in St Ives to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.
I need to instruct a conveyancing practitioner in St Ives for my remortgage. Is it possible to review a solicitor's record with the legal regulator?
One can review published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from investigations commenced on or after Jan 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find details Pre 2008, or to check a solicitors record, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. International callers, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator sometimes monitor call for training purposes.
I've recently bought a leasehold flat in St Ives. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?
Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure 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).
I bought a studio flat in St Ives, conveyancing having been completed half a dozen years ago. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Equivalent properties in St Ives with an extended lease are worth £227,000. The ground rent is £50 invoiced annually. The lease expires on 21st October 2098
With 72 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £9,500 and £11,000 plus professional fees.
The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more detailed due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward based on this information before getting professional advice.