Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on last month in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Hilsea is where the house is located. Is there any advice you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Hilsea are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Hilsea you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Hilsea may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.

Taking into account that I am about to part with over three hundred thousand on a property in Hilsea I wish to talk to a lawyer regarding thetransaction prior to instructing the firm. Can this be arranged?

We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you liaising with the solicitor who will be doing your property ownership legalities in Hilsea.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is an important person, not a case number. The practices that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are quoted for your conveyancing in Hilsea should be the figure that you end up paying.

In my capacity as executor for the estate of my grandfather I am selling a house in Monmouth but I am based in Hilsea. My solicitor (based 300 kilometers from mehas requested that I sign a stat dec ahead of completion. Can you recommend a conveyancing lawyer in Hilsea who can attest and place their company stamp on the document?

Technically speaking you are not likely to need to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily or notary public or solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are Hilsea based

I am looking at a couple of maisonettes in Hilsea which have about 50 years left on the lease term. Do I need to be concerned?

There are no two ways about it. A leasehold apartment in Hilsea is a deteriorating asset as a result of the reducing lease term. The closer the lease gets to its expiry date, the more it adversely affects the value of the premises. For most buyers and mortgage companies, leases with under eighty years become less and less attractive. On a more positive note, leaseholders can extend their leases by serving a Section 42 Notice. One stipulation is that they must have owned the premises for two years (unlike a Section 13 notice for purchasing the freehold, when leaseholders can participate from day one of ownership). When successful, they will have the right to an extension of 90 years to the current term and ground rent is effectively reduced to zero. Before moving forward with a purchase of a property with a short lease term remaining you should talk to a solicitor specialising in lease extensions and leasehold enfranchisement. We are are happy to put you in touch with Hilsea conveyancing experts who will explain the options available to you during an initial telephone conversation free of charge. More often than not it is possible to negotiate informally with the freeholder to extend the lease. They may agree to a smaller lump sum and an increase in the ground rent, but to shorter extension terms in return. You need to ensure that the agreed terms represent good long-term value compared with the standard benefits of the Section 42 Notice and that onerous clauses are not inserted into any redrafting of the lease.

I acquired a ground floor flat in Hilsea, conveyancing having been completed April 2008. How much will my lease extension cost? Equivalent properties in Hilsea with an extended lease are worth £222,000. The ground rent is £50 yearly. The lease runs out on 21st October 2096

With only 71 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £9,500 and £11,000 as well as costs.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.

We are in the process of acquiring a flat in Hilsea. Conveyancing is not over but we would like have the amount we are are buying for confidential from sites such as Zoopla. Is this possible and how?

The Land Registry are legally obliged to note price paid information on the official title for residential properties countrywide which includes homes in Hilsea. The Title Register is a public document, so the Land Registry would be breaching their statutory duty excluded certain homes such as your property in Hilsea.

You can make a request of HM Land Registry to hide the price paid entry yet the response would be in the negative.