Recently been in touch with my conveyancing solicitor in Crawley Down who acted for me 18 months ago asking for a conveyancing estimate based on the same type of house move (a leasehold premises and a freehold property) of almost identical values with a loan from Barclays Direct. It looks as though am now being quoted double. Am I right to be tempted to shop around for a cheaper online conveyancer?

The estimate does seem a tad steep. If you you were to look around you may be able to decrease the fees marginally by say £125. On the other hand, assuming were pleased with the legal work the firm provided you mightcome to rue opting for an an unknown lawyer. If is important to be sure the conveyancer can act for Barclays Direct. Do employ our search tool to locate a Crawley Down conveyancing firm on the Barclays Direct approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Crawley Down.

Some advice if I may. My Crawley Down lawyer is advising me that he is legally obliged toconduct Crawley Down conveyancing searches due to the fact thatthe firm are on the Nat Westsolicitor panel. These Crawley Down searches cost a lot of money can this be avoided?

You have limited options available to you. Given that you are taking out a loan with a mortgage company your conveyancer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your property lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your bank’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to comply with the CML Handbook provisions . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Crawley Down conveyancing searches.

Should our lawyer be raising questions concerning flooding during the conveyancing in Crawley Down.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for conveyancers dealing with homes in Crawley Down. Some people will purchase a house in Crawley Down, completely expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, where a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, satisfactory building insurance, or dispose of the property. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.

Lawyers are not best placed to offer advice on flood risk, however there are a number of checks that may be undertaken by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which can give them a better understanding of the risks in Crawley Down. The conventional set of information sent to a buyer’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) contains a usual question of the seller to discover if the premises has historically flooded. In the event that flooding has previously occurred and is not disclosed by the owner, then a buyer may issue a legal claim for losses stemming from an incorrect reply. The purchaser’s lawyers will also conduct an environmental search. This should higlight if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, further investigations will need to be initiated.

The deeds to our home can not be found. The solicitors who handled the conveyancing in Crawley Down 5 years ago have long since closed. What are my options?

Assuming you have a registered title the details of your proprietorship will be retained by the Land Registry under a Title Number. It is easy to perform a search at the Land Registry, locate your property and get up to date copies of the Registered Entries for a small fee. Where the title is Leasehold then the Land Registry will also normally hold a certified duplicate of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be obtained for twenty pounds.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and identified one near me in Crawley Down I like with a park and station in the vicinity, however it only has 61 years on the lease. There is not much else in Crawley Down in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?

If you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease will likely be an issue. Reduce the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for at least 2 years you could request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.