I purchased a terraced Edwardian house in Folkestone. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and Barclays Direct. 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 matching 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 proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Folkestone and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also question the position with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the purchase.

How does conveyancing in Folkestone differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build residence in Folkestone contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is built. This is because house builders in Folkestone usually acquire 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 Folkestone or who has acted in the same development.

I need to find a conveyancing solicitor for freehold conveyancing in Folkestone. I happened to stumble across a web site which seems to have the perfect offering If there is a chance to get all formalities done via email that would be ideal. Do I need to be wary? 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 am looking at a two apartments in Folkestone both have about 50 years unexpired on the lease term. Do I need to be concerned?

There are plenty of short leases in Folkestone. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the premises for a prescribed time frame. As the lease shortens the value of the lease decreases and results in it becoming more costly to extend the lease. This is why it is advisable to increase the term of the lease. More often than not it is difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on properties of this type. Lease extension can be a difficult process. We advise that you get professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this field.

I invested in buying a ground floor flat in Folkestone, conveyancing was carried out 4 years ago. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Similar properties in Folkestone with over 90 years remaining are worth £180,000. The ground rent is £65 per annum. The lease expires on 21st October 2083

With only 58 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £22,800 and £26,400 plus professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs in the absence of detailed due diligence. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.

What type of property do your Folkestone conveyancing quotes apply to?

Our conveyancing quotes are only appropriate to standard residential homes in England & Wales. If you have any different requirements for instance industrial or agricultural property or commercial conveyancing in Folkestone you should contact us to consider your requirements .