Our mortgage company has recommended solicitors on their panel based in Honiton but I would rather choose a conveyancing lawyer in Honiton round the corner to me. Are you able to help?

Not all Honiton conveyancing solicitors are listed all lender’s conveyancing panel. Do make use of the above find an approved solicitor tool to identify a Honiton conveyancing solicitor on the on the mortgage company panel.

We had selected solicitors located in Honiton on the Nationwide solicitor panel. They are now charging me an additional charge for the legal aspects of the Nationwide mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Nationwide?

Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your property lawyer can charge a fee for this. This charge is not dictated by Nationwide but by your Honiton property lawyer. Plenty of firms on the Nationwide panel will quote ’dealing with mortgage’ fee but some firms include it on their overall fee.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Honiton. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Kent Reliance have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?

As you are obtaining a mortgage with Kent Reliance your lawyer must follow the conveyancing instructions contained in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Kent Reliance. The CML Handbook includes minimum conditions for solar panel roof-space leases, and property lawyers are required to report to Kent Reliance where a lease does not comply with these conditions. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not limited to Honiton.

Planning on purchasing a apartment in Honiton. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Lender if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the UBS conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Honiton property lawyer is on the UBS conveyancing panel.

My wife and I purchased a terraced Edwardian property in Honiton. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Platform Home Loans Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the exact same address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You need to review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Honiton and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also question the position with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the work.

About to purchase a new build flat in Honiton. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Honiton

Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision.

I am employed by a busy estate agency in Honiton where we have witnessed a few flat sales jeopardised as a result of short leases. I have received conflicting advice from local Honiton conveyancing firms. Can you confirm whether the vendor of a flat can start the lease extension formalities for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the proposed purchaser need not have to wait 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done prior to, or at the same time as completion of the disposal of the property.

Alternatively, it may be possible to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the purchaser.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Honiton - Examples of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing

Who manages the building? In the main the cost for major works tend not to be wrapped into the maintenance charges, although there some managing agents in Honiton ask tenants to pay into a reserve fund created for the specific intention of building a fund for major repairs or maintenance.