I am in the market for a reasonably priced property lawyer. Should I go for for a nationwide conveyancer or a high street Hedge End conveyancing lawyer?

In the main conveyancing solicitors in your neck of the woods will enjoy good connections with your local authority, which could help with your Hedge End conveyancing searches that your lawyer will need to carry out. It can only help if they have existing connections with the Land Registry covering your area Hedge End, other lawyers in the location and Hedge End property agents.

We are buying a flat and require a conveyancing solicitor in Hedge End who is on the Co-operative approved panel. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a solicitor?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Co-operative . We don't recommend any particular firms conducting conveyancing in Hedge End.

I have a decision in principle. The lender mentioned the loan came with free conveyancing. Does this mean I have to appoint their panel conveyancer as I would prefer to instruct a local conveyancing solicitor in Hedge End?

Do check but the chances are that appoint one of their panel solicitors where you want the "fee-free" deal. Call the lender to explore if they offer you a cash alternative. In the past a few lenders offered a £250 cashback as an alternative in which case that money can go towards the cost for your conveyancing solicitor in Hedge End.

I've recently bought a leasehold house in Hedge End. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

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. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure 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).

Hedge End Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Questions you should ask Prior to buying

For most Hedge End leaseholds the outlay for major works tend not to be included within service charges, albeit that a few managing agents in Hedge End ask leaseholders to pay into a sinking fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for larger works. Can you tell me if there are any major works in the planning that will likely add a premium to the service charges? The best form of lease structure is if the freehold reversion is in the ownership of the leaseholders. In this situation the tenants enjoy control and even though a managing agent is usually employed if it is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants.

When it comes to my conveyancing in Hedge End should I be charged VAT on the following: (1) Land reg fee on purchase (2) Pre - completion search fee (3) SDLT E submission on purchase (4) Bank TT fee

(1) Land reg fee on purchase - No (2) Pre - completion search fees -No, (such conveyancing searches are HMLR ones and means £4 and possibly £2 bankruptcy per name on your mortgage) (3) SDLT E submission on your purchase - There is no VAT on Stamp Duty. However if the firm is charging a stamp duty e-submission fee as part of their services - some Hedge End conveyancers do - that will incur VAT(4) Bank transfer fee - Yes it is for the property lawyer's time in submitting the funds this way.