I have just started taking steps with the aim of transferring my current homeowner mortgage to a Buy to Let Bank of Ireland mortgage. I have been informed by my broker that I require a solicitor for this. I spoke to the same Botley conveyancing practitioner who acted on my behalf when I initially bought the property. The fee calculation e-mailed to me of £575 plus disbursements has shocked me as its a refinance than a sale or purchase.

The estimate does seem a little on the high side. If you are happy to spend time scrutinising costs you could get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by say a hundred pounds. On the other hand, providing that you were content with the legal work the firm provided you couldcome to rue choosing an a cheaper lawyer. Don't forget to enquire the solicitor can represent Bank of Ireland. Do make use of our search tool to locate a Botley conveyancing firm on the Bank of Ireland approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Botley.

The Botley conveyancing solicitors that just started acting on my house acquisition in Botley have without warning shut down. I only went with them because I had to have a solicitor on the Barclays conveyancing panel and my family Botley lawyer was not. I paid them 275 plus VAT in advance. What are my options?

If you have an estate agent involved then let them know straight away so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Barclays conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new lawyers may be able to assist.

What can a local search inform me concerning the property I am purchasing in Botley?

Botley conveyancing often commences with the ordering local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search organisations for instance PSG The local search plays a central part in many a Botley conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search should supply data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable 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 subject headings.

I need to find a conveyancing solicitor for residential conveyancing in Botley. I happened to stumble across a site which seems to have the ideal answer If there is a chance to get all this stuff completed via web that would be preferable. Do I need to be concerned? What should out be looking out for?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

I’m about to sell my basement flat in Botley. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed, but I have just received a quarterly service charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

It best that you discharge the service charge as you normally would as all rents and maintenance invoices should be allotted as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you will be reimbursed by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I acquired a 1st floor flat in Botley, conveyancing having been completed in 2008. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Similar properties in Botley with an extended lease are worth £197,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £55 charged once a year. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2079

With just 55 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £31,400 and £36,200 as well as professional fees.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure without more comprehensive due diligence. Do not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt other issues that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.