My partner’s uncle is a solicitor. I am hopeful that I will receive friends and family rates for conveyancing, but if not, what kind of costs should I be paying for conveyancing in West Sussex?
Do compare pricing. Make use of our search tool on this page. You will notice that amounts will vary but service levels do are distinct between property lawyers as is the case with the vast majority of professional services.
The sellers of the house we are hoping to buy are using a conveyancing solicitor in West Sussex who has suggested a lock out contract with a non-refundable deposit 10k. Are such arrangements appropriate for West Sussex conveyancing transactions?
Lock out agreements are contracts between a property owner and prospective acquirer granting the buyer a ‘clear field’ to the sale of the property for a limited period of time. Essentially, a lock out is a document specifying that you should be issued with a contract at a later time being the contract for the actual sale. It tends to be utilised for buyer protection though in many situations, the seller may stand to benefit from such agreements as well. There are numerous positives and negatives to using them but you need to check with your solicitor but note that it may result in costing you more in conveyancing charges. In light of this these contracts are not popular in relation to conveyancing in West Sussex.
My Solicitor in West Sussex is not listed on the Nationwide Building Society Solicitor Panel. Can I still retain my family solicitor even though they are not on the Nationwide Building Society panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?
The limited options available to you here include:
- Carry on with your preferred West Sussex lawyers but Nationwide Building Society will need to use a solicitor on their panel. This will result in additional total legal fees and cause delays.
- Find a new lawyer to act in the conveyancing, remembering to check they are Nationwide Building Society approved.
- Persuade your Nationwide Building Society solicitor to seek to join the Nationwide Building Society panel
Will our conveyancer be asking questions regarding flooding during the conveyancing in West Sussex.
The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for lawyers carrying out conveyancing in West Sussex. There are those who buy a property in West Sussex, completely aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical destruction, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, suitable building insurance, or dispose of the premises. There are steps that can be taken during the course of a property purchase to forewarn the purchaser.
Conveyancers are not qualified to give advice on flood risk, however there are a number of checks that can be initiated by the buyer or by their lawyers which should figure out the risks in West Sussex. The standard property information forms sent to a purchaser’s conveyancer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a standard question of the vendor to discover if the property has suffered from flooding. If flooding has previously occurred and is not disclosed by the owner, then a purchaser may commence a claim for damages as a result of such an incorrect response. A purchaser’s lawyers may also commission an environmental report. This will higlight whether there is any known flood risk. If so, further inquiries will need to be made.
Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in West Sussex. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.
Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in West Sussex
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There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on last month in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. West Sussex is where the house is located. Can you offer any advice?
Flying freeholds in West Sussex are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in West Sussex you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in West Sussex 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 property.