I am assisting my step-mother sell her property in East Oxford. Does the solicitor order an energy performance certificate or it is for the seller to coordinate?

Following the abolition of HIPs, energy performance certificates remained a required element of moving house. An energy performance certificate should be commissioned in advance of the property being marketed. This is not a task that law firms ordinarily organise. If you are using a East Oxford conveyancing solicitor they might be willing to arrange energy assessments given their contacts with reputable East Oxford assessors

Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in East Oxford. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I would like to complain about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?

Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first point of contact should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Department at head office. We understand that complaints to a lender are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR with full details of your complaint.

have agreed my home loan in principle, my offer on a property in East Oxford has been accepted, what happens next?

The property agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure the are on the bank’s panel). Contact or your financial adviser and finish off any appropriate documentation. will instruct a valuer who will get in contact with the selling agent or owners to arrange an appointment. Once carried out (assuming no problems) it takes on average ten days for the mortgage offer to be issued. will issue the offer to you and your . The legal work will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing in East Oxford.

Various internet forums that I have visited warn that are a common cause of hinderance in East Oxford conveyancing transactions. Is there any truth in this?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published conclusions of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature within the most frequent causes of delays in the conveyancing process. Local searches are not likely to feature in any holding up conveyancing in East Oxford.

About to purchase a new build flat in East Oxford. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Here are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in East Oxford

Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier?

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one round the corner in East Oxford I like with open areas and railway links in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 61 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in East Oxford suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for at least 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my basement apartment in East Oxford. Conveyancing is yet to be initiated, but I have just had a half-yearly service charge invoice – Do I pay up?

The sensible thing to do is discharge the invoice as normal because all ground rent and service payments will be allotted on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless 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.

Leasehold Conveyancing in East Oxford - A selection of Questions you should consider before Purchasing

For most East Oxford leaseholds the cost for major works tend not to be wrapped into the service charges, albeit that some managing agents in East Oxford obliged leasehold owners to pay into a sinking fund created for the specific purpose of building a fund for larger repairs or maintenance. It is important to be aware whether window replacement or some other significant cost is coming up that will be shared by the leaseholders and may well dramatically impact the level of the service charges or necessitate a one off invoice.