The Alfriston conveyancing firm handling our Alfriston conveyancing has identified a difference when comparing the information in the home valuation report and what is in the conveyancing documents. My lawyer informs me that he is obliged to check that the lender is OK with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my lawyer’s approach right?

Your lawyer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook provisions which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.

This question may be naive but I am unexperienced as FTB of a garden flat in Alfriston. Do I collect the keys to the house on the completion date from my lawyer? If so, I will appoint a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Alfriston?

On the day of completion you do not need to attend the conveyancers office in Alfriston. Conveyancing lawyers for you will arrange to send the completion advance to the owner’s solicitors, and once they have received this, you should be able to collect the keys from the property Agents and move into your new home. Usually this happens between 1 and 3pm.

We are getting the release of further monies on our home loan from Clydesdale as we wish to conduct renovations to our house in Alfriston. Do we need to select a local Alfriston solicitor on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel to handle the legals?

Clydesdale would not normally appoint firms on their conveyancing panel to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Clydesdale panel.

I currently have a mortgage with Kent Reliance for my property in Alfriston. Conveyancing was finalised 12 months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a buy-to-let mortgage or inform Kent Reliance?

You must advise Kent Reliance before letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Kent Reliance’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Kent Reliance will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Kent Reliance directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Kent Reliance conveyancing panel lawyer.

What can a local search tell me about the house I am purchasing in Alfriston?

Alfriston conveyancing often starts with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search company such as Searches UK The local search is essential in every Alfriston conveyancing purchase; as long as you wish to avoid any nasty once you have moved into your new home. The search will provide data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 topic sections.

Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Alfriston prior to appointing conveyancers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold element to the house. The surveyor has said that some mortgage companies tend not give a mortgage on such a house.

It depends who your proposed lender is. HSBC has different requirements from Birmingham Midshires. If you contact us we can investigate further via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Alfriston. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Alfriston especially if they are familiar with such properties in Alfriston.

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

If you are instructing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Alfriston conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggest that you talk with several firms including non Alfriston conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions could be of use:

What volume of lease extensions have they conducted in Alfriston in the last 12 months?

Alfriston Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

In the main the outlay for major works tend not to be included within service charges, although a few managing agents in Alfriston obliged leaseholders to contribute towards a sinking fund and this is used to offset against major repairs or maintenance. The answer will be helpful as a) areas can result in problems for the block as the communal areas may start to deteriorate where repairs are not paid for b) if the leasehold owners have an issue with the managing agents you will want to have all the details Is the freehold owned collectively by the tenants?