At what point will exchange of contracts happen for domestic conveyancing in Hawkhurst and am I required to be at the solicitors office?

Where you are local to our conveyancing solicitors in Hawkhurst you are welcome to attend to sign documents. However, the lender approved solicitors we work with offer countrywide coverage for conveyancing and give just as detailed and professional a job for you when dealing with you electronically. The executing of the property agreement is not the important part. Signing on the dotted line is necessary for the firm to officially exchange at the suitable time, which is ordinarily shortly after signing. The procedure is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where a long "chain" is involved, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Hawkhurst)to be in the office at the appropriate time.

I am expecting a OIP from Nationwide this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Nationwide recommend any Hawkhurst solicitors on the Nationwide conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?

You will need to appoint Hawkhurst solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Nationwide through the process.

My fiancee and I are at the point of viewing apartments in Hawkhurst and I am about to put in an offer. Should I already have a lawyer in place at this stage? I intend to finance via a home loan with Santander.

It would be wise to commence your search sooner rather than later. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their contact information on to the estate agent. Given that you are taking out a mortgage with Santander, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the Santander conveyancing panel.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Hawkhurst. I have a mortgage offer with Skipton. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Skipton, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Skipton conveyancing panel.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Hawkhurst. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Hawkhurst

Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and found one close by in Hawkhurst I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, however it only has 52 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Hawkhurst in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a lease with such few years left?

If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease will be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for at least 2 years you can ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

My step-father has encouraged me to instruct his lawyers for conveyancing in Hawkhurst. Should I use them?

No doubt the best way to choose a conveyancing lawyer is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually used the solicitor that you are contemplating using.