I have been told that property searches are the number one cause of hinderance in Lanchester conveyancing transactions. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the conclusions of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature amongst the most frequent causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Searches are not likely to feature in any delay in conveyancing in Lanchester.

I moved into my flat on 12 April and my personal details are still not on the land registry website. Need I be worried? My conveyancing solicitor in Lanchester advises it should be recorded in a couple of weeks. Are titles in Lanchester particularly slow to register?

There is nothing unique about conveyancing in Lanchester registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timescales can vary according to the party submitting the application, whether there are errors and whether the Land registry must send notices to any other parties. Currently roughly three quarters of such applications are completed in less than three weeks but occasionally there can be extensive hold-ups. Registration takes place after the new owner has moved in to the premises therefore 'speed' is not typically primary concern yet where it is urgent that the the registration takes place urgently then you or your solicitor should contact the land registry and explain the circumstances.

I opted to have a survey carried out on a house in Lanchester before instructing lawyers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. My surveyor has said that some mortgage companies tend refuse to issue a mortgage on a flying freehold home.

It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different instructions from Halifax. Should you wish to telephone us we can look into this further with the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Lanchester. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Lanchester especially if they are familiar with such properties in Lanchester.

I have been advised by a number of property agents in Lanchester to select a solicitor on your site. Is there a financial upside for Estate Agents to offer your site over and above a competitor’s?

We refuse to make any financial incentive for sending work to this site. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission because home movers will think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Lanchester conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Lanchester conveyancing firm) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you speak with two or three firms including non Lanchester conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions might be helpful:

Can they put you in touch with clients in Lanchester who can give a testimonial? How many lease extensions have they conducted in Lanchester in the last year?

I purchased a split level flat in Lanchester, conveyancing formalities finalised December 2011. How much will my lease extension cost? Equivalent properties in Lanchester with an extended lease are worth £207,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £60 invoiced annually. The lease ceases on 21st October 2082

With 57 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £28,500 and £33,000 plus legals.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure without more comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.