Having sold my house in Windsor last August yet the purchaser is SMS messaging me to say her conveyancer needs to hear from mysolicitor. What are the post completion sale legalities now that I have sold?

Following your disposal your conveyancer should send the transfer deeds and all additional paperwork to the purchaser's solicitors. If applicable, your solicitor should also confirm that the mortgage has been repaid to the buyers lawyers. There is unlikely to be post completion tasks unique to conveyancing in Windsor.

My fiance and I are purchasing a 3 bedroom apartment in Windsor with a residential mortgage from Barnsley Building Society.We would like to retain our Windsor conveyancing lawyer but Barnsley Building Society advised that she’s not listed on their approved list of member firms. we are left little option but to use a Barnsley Building Society panel firm or keep our high street solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?

No, not really. The loan issued to you contains various provisions, one of which will be that solicitors must be on the Barnsley Building Society approved list. in the past, most mortgage companies had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower could find one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Barnsley Building Society

I am buying a new build flat in Windsor. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Set out below are examples of a few leasehold new build questions that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Windsor

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. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? 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 Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease.

In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 impact my commercial premises in Windsor and how can you help?

The 1954 Act provides security of tenure to commercial leaseholders, granting the legal entitlement to apply to court for a new tenancy and continue in occupation at the end of the lease term. There are certain specified grounds where a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing solicitors who use the act for protection and handle your commercial conveyancing in Windsor

My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Windsor. Conveyancing and The Mortgage Works mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1998. The conveyancing solicitor in Windsor who acted for me is not around. Any advice?

First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the new freeholder. There is no need to incur the fees of a Windsor conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. You should note that in any event, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Windsor Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing

The best form of lease structure is if the freehold title is owned by the leaseholders. In this arrangement the lessees have being in charge if their destiny and even though a managing agent is often employed where it is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants. Is anyone aware of any major works on the horizon that will likely increase the maintenance costs? Is there a share of the freehold?