We were just about to exchange contracts for a ground floor flat in Windsor. We encountered a stumbling block. Our loan offer with Barclays expires on 19/1/2026 but the owners are suggesting a completion date of 21/1/2026. Is it possible to extend the loan expiry date?
The best person to address this concern is your conveyancer who is in a position to calculate if they better off negotiating with the lender, seller’s solicitors, property agents or conceivably all parties based on the history of your house move to date.
Should commercial conveyancing searches reveal proposed roadworks that may affect a commercial property in Windsor?
Its becoming the norm that commercial conveyancing solicitors in Windsor will carry out a SiteSolutions Highways report as it dramatically cuts the time that conveyancers spend in looking into accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Windsor. The search result provides definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Windsor.
For every commercial conveyancing transaction in Windsor it is critical to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. Failure to identify developments where adoption procedures have not been dealt with adequately can result in delays to Windsor commercial conveyancing deals as well as present a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not carried out for domestic conveyancing in Windsor.
I am looking for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and found one near me in Windsor I like with amenity areas and station nearby, the downside is that it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Windsor suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a lease with such few years left?
If you require a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will be problematic. Discount the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for at least 2 years you could ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer about this.
Am I best advised to use a Windsor conveyancing lawyer based in the vicinity that I am hoping to buy? We have a good friend who can carry out the legal formalities but they are based a couple of hundredmiles drive away.
The primary upside of using a high street Windsor conveyancing practice is that you can visit the firm to execute paperwork, present your identification documents and apply pressure on them where appropriate. They will also have local intelligence which is a bonus. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who used your friend and they were happy that should surpass using an unfamiliar Windsor conveyancing solicitor just because they are round the corner.
Last May I purchased a leasehold flat in Windsor. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?
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. It is an essential part 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).
Windsor Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing
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Many Windsor leasehold properties will be liable to pay a service charge for the upkeep of the building set on behalf of the freeholder. If you acquire the property you will have to meet this contribution, normally in instalments accross the year. This may vary from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large common areas. There will also be a rentcharge for you to pay annual, this is usually not a significant figure, say approximately £50-£100 but you should to enquire as occasionally it can be many hundreds of pounds. How much is the ground rent and service charge? It is important to be aware whether redecorating or some other major work is anticipated that will be shared by the leaseholders and will materially impact the level of the service fees or require a specific invoice.
I have selected a Windsor conveyancing solicitor for our home move (FTB’s) and have picked up in the engagement letter that they are not governed by the Financial Conduct Authority. Should I be worried or is that usually the case with conveyancing practitioner?
We can't see why they should be. Most conveyancing practitioner don't lend money. You should check that they are governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, who have stringent obligations regulating amounts deposited by them.