My husband and I intend to remortgage our apartment in Countesthorpe with Lloyds. We have a son 18 who lives at home. Our solicitor has asked us to disclose anyone over the age of 17 other than ourselves who reside at the property. Our lawyer has now e-mailed a document for our son to sign, waiving any legal rights in the event that the flat is forfeited by the lender. I have a couple of concerns (1) Is this document specific to the Lloyds conveyancing panel as he never had to sign this form when we remortgaged 4 years ago (2) In signing this form is our son in any way compromising his right to inherit the property?

On the face of it your lawyer has done nothing wrong as it is established procedure for any occupier who is aged 17 or over to sign the necessary Consent Form, which is purely to state that any rights he has in the property are postponed and secondary to Lloyds. This is solely used to protect Lloyds if the property were re-possessed so that in such circumstances, your son would be legally obliged to leave. It does not impact your son’s right to inherit the apartment. Please note that if your son were to inherit and the mortgage in favour of Lloyds had not been discharged, he would be liable to take over the loan or pay it off, but other than that, there is nothing stopping him from keeping the property in accordance with your will or the rules of intestacy.

We note that you have a search directory identifying law firms on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for our own conveyancing in Countesthorpe?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Countesthorpe.

I am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and found one round the corner in Countesthorpe I like with a park and transport links nearby, however it's only got 51 years on the lease. There is not much else in Countesthorpe in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?

Should you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease will be an issue. Reduce the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you may ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this.

In surfing the web for the phrase on line conveyancing in Countesthorpe it reveals many property lawyersin the area. How do I determine which is the suitable conveyancing solicitor for my move?

The ideal way of choosing a suitable conveyancer is through a trusted testimonial, so seek the guidance of colleagues and those you trust who have purchased a property in Countesthorpe or a reputable estate agent or mortgage broker. Fees for conveyancing in Countesthorpe differ, so it's a good idea to secure at least four fee calculations from different companies. Make sure that you clarify what costs in the quote includes.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently been informed that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in Countesthorpe. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been appointed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Countesthorpe ?

Most houses in Countesthorpe are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area who can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Countesthorpe in which case you should be looking for a Countesthorpe conveyancing solicitor and check that they have experience in transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the house is part of an estate. Your lawyer should report to you on the legal implications.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Countesthorpe - Sample of Questions you should ask before buying

Best to be warned whether redecorating or some other major work is due shortly to be shared between the tenants and will materially impact the level of the service costs or require a one time invoice. Is there a share of the freehold? It would be prudent to find out as much as possible concerning the company managing the block as they can either make your life much easier or uncomfortable. As the owner of a leasehold property you will be in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to every day issues such as the cleanliness of the common parts. Enquire of other people what they think of them. On a final note, investigate as to the dates that you are obliged pay the maintenance charge to the managing agents and precisely how they are spending the funds.