We note that you have a post code search directory listing solicitors on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a commission if I appoint them for our conveyancing in Edingale?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Edingale.

Is it the case that all Edingale CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the Co-operative conveyancing list of approved solicitors?

A selection of lenders now make use of the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitors wishing to remain on their approved list of firms.

It is not clear whether my mortgage offer obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called into my local Edingale building society branch on numerous occasions and was informed it wasn't a problem and they would lend. My Edingale conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called and was told they refuse to lend in accordance with their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?

The property lawyer must follow the CML Handbook section two conditions for your lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the bank will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the mortgage company to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

My offer was accepted on a property in Edingale on 29/11/2024, valuation was booked 4 days after, received a clean bill of health. Solicitor appointed, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Nottingham and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Nottingham conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?

A lender would not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Nottingham to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Nottingham conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

My wife and I purchased a renovated Georgian property in Edingale. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Clydesdale. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You should 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 owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Edingale and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the position with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the conveyancing.

How does conveyancing in Edingale differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Edingale contact 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 Edingale tend to buy the land, 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 property lawyers 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 used to new build conveyancing in Edingale or who has acted in the same development.

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Edingale conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Edingale conveyancing practice) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggest that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Edingale conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions might be of use:

How familiar is the practice with lease extension legislation? What volume of lease extensions have they conducted in Edingale in the last 12 months?

Edingale Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries before buying

Is anyone aware of any major works anticipated that will add a premium to the maintenance charges? What restrictions exist in the Edingale Lease? Where a Edingale lease has less than eighty years it will have adverse implications on the marketability of the property. It is worth checking with your mortgage company that they are happy with remaining years on the lease. A short lease means that you will most likely have to extend the lease sooner rather than later and it is worth finding out how much this will be. Remember, in most cases you will be required to have been the owner of the property for a couple of years before you are entitled to carry out a lease extension.