I have a semi-detached Georgian property in Dulverton. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Yorkshire Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold under the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Dulverton and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the position with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the work.

How does conveyancing in Dulverton differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Dulverton approach us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is finished. This is because house builders in Dulverton typically acquire the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Dulverton or who has acted in the same development.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in last month in what should have been a quick, no chain conveyancing. Dulverton is the location of the property. Can you offer any opinion?

Flying freeholds in Dulverton are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Dulverton you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Dulverton may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.

As co-executor for the will of my father I am disposing of a house in Neath but live in Dulverton. My conveyancer (who is 260 kilometers from meneeds me to execute a stat dec before completion. Can you recommend a conveyancing practitioner in Dulverton who can attest this legal document for me?

strictly speaking you are unlikely to need to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or solicitor will do regardless of whether they are located in Dulverton

I've recently bought a leasehold property in Dulverton. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

Dulverton Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Queries before buying

What prohibitions are there in the Dulverton Lease? The best form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this situation the tenants enjoy being in charge if their destiny and although a managing agent is frequently retained if the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. The answer will be useful as a) areas could cause problems in the block as the common areas may begin to deteriorate where services are not paid for b) if the leaseholders have a dispute with the running of the building you will wish to have all the details