I am hoping to complete my purchase in Bideford next Friday. My solicitor now wants me to supply her with evidence of content and building insurance for the property as as she informs me that she is duty bound to validate that it is in order for the mortgage company. What does the insurance need to cover?

Any lawyer on acting for banks would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. These obligations are not limited to conveyancing in Bideford.

My colleague recommended that if I am purchasing in Bideford I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

This is a search is sometimes quoted for as part of the standard Bideford conveyancing searches. It is a large document of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out important information about Bideford around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Bideford Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Local Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data about Bideford.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Bideford is the location of the property. Is there any advice you can give?

Flying freeholds in Bideford are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Bideford you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Bideford may decide 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 residence.

What does commercial conveyancing in Bideford cover?

Commercial conveyancing in Bideford incorporates a wide array of services, offered by qualified solicitors, relating to business property. By way of example, this type of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more usually, the assignment of existing business tenancies or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial loans and the termination of tenancies.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 68 years unexpired on my lease in Bideford. I need to get lease extension but my landlord is missing. What are my options?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be lengthened by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to track down the freeholder. On the whole an enquiry agent should be helpful to carry out a search and prepare an expert document which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer both on devolving into the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Bideford.

Bideford Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

Be sure to find out if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. For instance it is reasonably common in Bideford leases that pets are not allowed in certain buildings in Bideford. If you like the flatin Bideford yet your cat is not allowed to live with you then you will be faced hard decision. You should want to find out as much as you can about the managing agents as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. As the owner of a leasehold property you are frequently in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to practical matters such as the tidiness of the communal areas. Ask other people what they think of their service. On a final note, be sure you understand the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the managing agents and precisely how they are spending that money. Many Bideford leasehold flats will incur a service charge for maintenance of the block set by the landlord. If you acquire the flat you will have to pay this liability, usually in instalments throughout the year. This can be anything from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large communal areas. There will also be a ground rent for you to pay annual, normally this is not a significant amount, say about £25-£75 but you should to enquire it because occasionally it could be surprisingly expensive.