We're in Alford, FTBs purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Yorkshire BS , and our solicitor is on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer 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.

I used Action Conveyancing several years past for my conveyancing in Alford. I now require my file however the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?

Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Alford of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I am looking into buying my first house which is in Alford and I am already nervous. I couldn't find anything specific about Alford. Conveyancing will be needed in due course but do you know about the Alford area? or perhaps some other tips you can share?

Rather than looking online forget looking online you should go and have a look at Alford. In the meantime here are some basic statistics that we found

I am attracted to a couple of maisonettes in Alford both have approximately forty five years unexpired on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

There is no doubt about it. A leasehold flat in Alford is a wasting asset as a result of the shortening lease. The closer the lease gets to its expiry date, the more it reduces the salability of the property. For most purchasers and banks, leases with under 75 years become less and less marketable. On a more positive note, leaseholders can extend their leases by serving a Section 42 Notice. One stipulation is that they must have owned the premises for two years (unlike a Section 13 notice for purchasing the freehold, when leaseholders can participate from day one of ownership). When successful, they will have the right to an extension of 90 years to the current term and ground rent is effectively reduced to zero. Before moving forward with a purchase of a residence with a short lease term remaining you should talk to a solicitor specialising in lease extensions and leasehold enfranchisement. We are are happy to put you in touch with Alford conveyancing experts who will explain the options available to you during an initial telephone conversation free of charge. A more straightforward and quicker method of extending would be to contact your landlord directly and sound him out on the prospect of extending the lease. You may find he or she is happy to negotiate informally and willing to consider your offer straight off, without having to involve anyone else. This will save you time and money and it could help you reach a lower price on the lease. You need to ensure that the agreed terms represent good long-term value compared with the standard benefits of the Section 42 Notice and that onerous clauses are not inserted into any redrafting of the lease.

Alford Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries before buying

Generally speaking the outlay for major works are not incorporated into the service charges, albeit that a few managing agents in Alford require leaseholders to pay into a reserve fund created for the specific intention of building a fund for larger repairs or maintenance. Best to be warned if a new roof is being installed or some other significant cost is pending to be shared by the leaseholders and may well materially impact the level of the service charges or require a one time invoice. Is there a share of the freehold?

What type of property do your Alford conveyancing estimates relate to?

The quotes issued are only appropriate to standard residential premises in England & Wales. Should you have any different requirements for example industrial or agricultural land or commercial conveyancing in Alford do telephone us to consider this further .