We have rather assertive vendors who has suggested a exclusivity contract with a down payment 6,000. Are such agreements sensible?

Exclusivity contracts are agreements binding a property vendor and purchaser granting the buyer a ‘clear field’ to purchase the premises within an agreed time frame. For all intents and purposes, an exclusivity is a document specifying that you will be issued with a contract at a later time which is the main conveyancing contract. It tends to be used for buyer confidence though in many situations, the vendor may stand to benefit from such agreements as well. There are numerous positives and negatives to having them but you should to check with your solicitor but beware that it may end up costing you more in conveyancing fees. In light of these reasons these contracts are not popular in relation to conveyancing in Corbridge.

I was recommended by a number of selling agents in Corbridge to choose a solicitor using your seach tool. Is there a financial advantage for Estate Agents to recommend your services over and above another?

We refuse to offer any commission for pointing buyers and sellers our way. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as a client could think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

Should I appoint a Corbridge conveyancing practitioner based in the area that I am purchasing? I have an old university friend who can handle the legal work but they are based 400kilometers drive away.

The primary upside of using a local Corbridge conveyancing firm is that you can drop in to sign paperwork, present your ID and pester them where appropriate. They will also have local knowledge which is a bonus. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If other friends have used your friend and on the whole were content that must surpass using an unfamiliar Corbridge conveyancing lawyer just because they are based in the area.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed apartment in Corbridge. Conveyancing has not commenced, however I have just received a yearly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

The sensible thing to do is discharge the service charge as normal as all ground rent and maintenance invoices will be allotted as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you will be reimbursed by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I acquired a studio flat in Corbridge, conveyancing formalities finalised October 2010. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Corresponding flats in Corbridge with over 90 years remaining are worth £191,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £55 invoiced every year. The lease terminates on 21st October 2079

With 54 years left to run the likely cost is going to be between £31,400 and £36,200 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs without more detailed investigations. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.

We are soon to buying a apartment in Corbridge. Can our conveyancing practitioner keep our purchase price private from sites such as Nestoria. Is this achievable and how?

HM Land Registry are legally obliged to disclose price sold data on the official title for domestic properties nationwide which includes properties in Corbridge. The register of title is a public document, so HM Land Registry would be breaching their statutory duty excluded certain homes such as the property in Corbridge.

You can make a request of HM Land Registry to hide the price paid data but the response will be in the negative.