I am in need of a property lawyer. Do I opt for an online conveyancer as opposed to a high street Guildford conveyancing lawyer?

In the main conveyancing practitioners in your neck of the woods will have excellent relationships with your local authority, which could assist with the Guildford conveyancing searches that your lawyer will need to carry out. It also helps if they enjoy good rapport with the Local Land Registry Office your area Guildford, other conveyancers in the neighbourhood and Guildford selling agents.

We are about to exchange contracts for a property in Guildford. We have hit a snag. The mortgage offer with Coventry Building Society expires on 6/5/2025 but the sellers are suggesting a completion date of 8/5/2025. Is it possible to prolong the mortgage offer?

The person best placed to deal with your question is your solicitors who should calculate whether he or she is corresponding with the mortgage broker, owner’s representatives, property agents or conceivably all three given the circumstances your transaction to date.

Having spent time reading moneysavingexpert.com for a conveyancing lawyer in Guildford, most say that I must instruct a CQS accredited solicitor. What is CQS?

The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme is the recognised quality mark for legal experts in home moving process, trusted by some of the UK's major banks. Four years ago the Conveyancing Quality Scheme was officially recognised by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The scheme does not cover licenced conveyancers. Guildford is one of the numerous areas of the UK where there are Accredited lawyers.

I today plan to offer on a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a reasonable price which is making it all the more appealing. I have just discovered that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues buying a house with a leasehold title in Guildford. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be instructed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Guildford ?

Most houses in Guildford are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Guildford in which case you should be shopping around for a Guildford conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions such as obtaining the landlord’spermission to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the estate where the house is located on an estate. Your lawyer will advise you fully on all the issues.

I bought a ground floor flat in Guildford, conveyancing having been completed August 1996. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Guildford with a long lease are worth £216,000. The ground rent is £50 invoiced every year. The lease runs out on 21st October 2094

With just 69 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 as well as legals.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs without more comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

I have today had an offer accepted on a leasehold flat in Guildford and the estate agent that we are dealing with suggested his lawyer. They quoted £1000 including VAT and 3rd party costs. Does this sound like a good deal?

You should not rely on a single estimate. One should obtain like-for-like quotes for your conveyancing in Guildford. Then select one that you are comfortable with and crucially, is on the approved panel of the lender that you are sourcing your mortgage from.