My partner’s sister is a conveyancing practitioner. I expect that I will be offered preferential fee for conveyancing, but if not, what level of fees should I be paying for conveyancing in Coventry?

It’s wise to seek two or three conveyancing quotes. Do use our comparison tool on this page. Whilst charges may vary but the service one can expect differ between property lawyers as is the case with the vast majority of professional services.

I am need of leasehold conveyancing for a flat in a relatively new development (seven years old) in Coventry. 95% of the flats have already been disposed of. Is it strictly necessary to order local searches for my conveyancing in Coventry?

You would be opening yourself up to an unnecessary risk in refusing to carrying out Coventry conveyancing searches. Without searches you have no clarity over flooding, environmental etc which may mean you walk away due to potential problems down the line. If you are buying without a mortgage there is no legal requirement to have them, but we would seriously advise in no uncertain terms that you have them. Where timings and expenses are top of your issues you should discuss with your conveyancer about the viability of search insurance

I can see plenty of here about conveyancing in Coventry but what is your top tip for choosing the right conveyancer in Coventry

Do not opt for the lowest Coventry conveyancing quote. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to conveyancing solicitors. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you know exactly what you’ll have to pay in advance.

When it comes to lenders such as RBS, do Coventry property lawyers have to pay a yearly amount to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are unaware of any bank fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do levy an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

Intending to buy a flat in Coventry. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Coventry conveyancing practitioner is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel.

I used Stirling Law a few years past for my conveyancing in Coventry. Now, I need my files however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Coventry of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in Coventry. 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 enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Coventry

Please supply a car parking plan. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. 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. Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore.