Various online forums that I have visited warn that are the primary reason for delay in Portslade conveyancing transactions. Is that correct?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the conclusions of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the most frequent causes of delays in the conveyancing process. Local searches are unlikely to be the root cause of slowing down conveyancing in Portslade.

2 months have elapsed since my purchase conveyancing in Portslade completed. I have checked the Land Registry website which shows that I paid £150,000 when infact I paid £215,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the asset from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £305k and found one near me in Portslade I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 51 years on the lease. There is not much else in Portslade in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a short lease?

If you need a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term may be an issue. Reduce the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you may ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

In surfing the web for the term cheap conveyancing in Portslade it brings up numerous conveyancerslocally. With so much choice what is the best way to find the suitable conveyancing solicitor for me?

The preferential method of choosing a suitable conveyancer is through a personal testimonial, so seek the counsel of colleagues and those you trust who have acquired a property in Portslade or a local estate agent or mortgage broker. Fees for conveyancing in Portslade vary, so it's a good idea to secure at least three quotes from different companies. Be sure to obtain confirmation that the fees are fixed.

Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Portslade from the perspective of expediting the sale process?

• Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Portslade can be bypassed if you instruct lawyers as soon as you market your property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation which will be required by the buyers’ lawyers.
If you have carried out any alterations to the residence would they have required Landlord’s consent? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Portslade state that internal structural changes or laying down wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. If you dont have the paperwork in place do not communicate with the landlord without checking with your conveyancer before hand. A minority of Portslade leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers put in hand bank and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers. If there is a history of any disputes with your landlord or managing agents it is very important that these are settled prior to the flat being marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be concerned about purchasing a flat where there is a current dispute. You may have to bite the bullet and pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose details of the dispute to the buyers, but it is better to present the dispute as over as opposed to unsettled. If you have the benefit of shareholding in the freehold, you should ensure that you hold the original share certificate. Arranging a re-issued share certificate is often a lengthy formality and frustrates many a Portslade conveyancing transaction. If a duplicate share is required, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.

I bought a 1st floor flat in Portslade, conveyancing was carried out November 2008. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Comparable flats in Portslade with a long lease are worth £255,000. The ground rent is £45 charged once a year. The lease ceases on 21st October 2098

You have 73 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £8,600 and £9,800 plus professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed due diligence. You should not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward based on this information without first getting professional advice.