My partner and I are approaching an exchange on a flat in Winterbourne and my mum and dad have transferred the ten percent deposit to my property lawyer. I am now informed that as the deposit has not come from me my conveyancer needs to disclose this to my lender. Apparently, in also acting for the bank he must inform them that the balance of the purchase price is coming from anyone other than me. I advised the bank concerning my parents' contribution when I applied for the mortgage, so is it really appropriate for this now to hold matters up?

The property lawyer is obliged to clarify with lender to make sure that they understand that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own funds. The solicitor can only notify this to your lender if you permit them to, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified during conveyancing in Winterbourne?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Winterbourne. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and found one close by in Winterbourne I like with amenity areas and station nearby, the downside is that it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Winterbourne in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?

If you require a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term may be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for at least twenty four months you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor regarding this.

I am using a search engine for the phrase cheap conveyancing in Winterbourne it reveals numerous property lawyersin the area. How do I determine which is the right solicitor for me?

The ideal method of seeking the right conveyancer is through a personal testimonial, so seek the counsel of friends and family who have bought a property in Winterbourne or a local estate agent or mortgage broker. Charges for conveyancing in Winterbourne differ, so it's a good idea to request at least four fee calculations from different companies. Dont forget to clarify that the charges are assured not to increase.

We expect to complete the disposal of our £200,000 flat in Winterbourne next week. The landlords agents has quoted £408 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and 3 years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge an administration fee for a flat conveyance in Winterbourne?

Winterbourne conveyancing on leasehold apartments usually involves the purchaser’s lawyer submitting enquiries for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to respond to such questions most will be content to assist. They are entitled to charge a reasonable charge for answering enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average fee for the paperwork that you are referring to is £350, in some transactions it is above £800. The management information fee required by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of rights and obligations in respect of administration fees, without which the charge is technically not due. Reality however dictates that one has little option but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to complete the sale of your home.

Winterbourne Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Queries before Purchasing

Is the freehold reversion owned collectively by the leaseholders? If a Winterbourne lease has fewer than eighty years it will impact the marketability of the apartment. Check with your bank that they are willing to lend given the lease term. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will probably have to extend the lease at some point and it is worth discovering what this will be. Remember, in most cases you would be be obliged to have been the owner of the premises for a couple of years in order to be eligible to exercise a lease extension. How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their maintenance charge payments?