We are acquiring our first property. Our conveyancer has messagedto enquire if we wish to take out additional conveyancing searches. Unfortunately we are clueless as to what's recommended for conveyancing in Honiton

The type of Honiton conveyancing searches should be dictated primarily on the premises, the location, the likelihood of any of these risks, your familiarity of the area and risks, your general attitude to risk. What matters is that you adequately comprehend what information the searches could give you. You may then decide if you consider that you need that search. If uncertain, ask your conveyancing practitioner to guide you.

It is 10 years ago since I acquired my home in Honiton. Conveyancing solicitors have now been instructed on the sale but I am unable to locate my deeds. Is this a major issue?

Don’t worry too much. First the deeds may be kept by the mortgage company or they may be archived with the solicitor who acted in the purchase. Secondly in most cases the land will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors obtaining up to date copy of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Honiton relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is resolvable.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Honiton. 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 legal work.

Set out below is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Honiton

Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. Please supply a car parking plan. 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.

Should I appoint a Honiton conveyancing lawyer in close proximity to the house I am purchasing? We have a good friend who can conduct the legal work but her office is a couple of hundredkilometers away.

The benefit of a local Honiton conveyancing firm is that you can drop in to execute documents, present your ID and pester them if necessary. Having local Honiton know how is a benefit. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who instructed your friend and the majority were content that should surpass using an unfamiliar Honiton conveyancing lawyer just because they are Honiton based.

I’m about to sell my basement flat in Honiton. Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon, however I have just had a quarterly maintenance charge invoice – what should I do?

It best that you discharge the service charge as usual given that all ground rent and service payments will be apportioned on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I acquired a split level flat in Honiton, conveyancing formalities finalised in 2012. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Similar properties in Honiton with over 90 years remaining are worth £171,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 yearly. The lease finishes on 21st October 2103

With only 79 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £8,600 and £9,800 as well as professional fees.

The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information before getting professional advice.