Our family solicitor has quoted £1400 for freehold conveyancing in Jesmond. I’m selling a purpose built detached home for £175,000. Is this expensive? Is it above what I should be paying for conveyancing in Jesmond?

The costs illustration is fractionally on the expensive side. If you shop around you might decrease the fees slightly by perhaps £100 plus VAT. On the other hand, you maycome to rue opting for an an unknown solicitor. Remember to ensure that the solicitor can also act for your bank. Do employ our comparison tool to get a quote a Jesmond conveyancing practice on the banks member panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Jesmond.

I am close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our house in Jesmond and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being built on contaminated land. A local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers used a national conveyancing practice as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Jesmond. Having lived in Jesmond for three years we know that this is a non issue. Do we contact our local Authority to obtain confirmation that there is no issue.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You must enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same ailment)

My wife and I own a renovated Victorian property in Jesmond. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Barclays Direct. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. Is it worth asking Barclays Direct to clarify?

You should assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for 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 Jesmond and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also check the situation with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the purchase.

I am using a search engine for the term cheap conveyancing in Jesmond it shows results of many property lawyerslocally. With so much choice what is the best way to find the suitable solicitor for the sale of my house?

The best way of finding a suitable conveyancer is through a trusted testimonial, so seek the opinion of friends and family who have acquired a property in Jesmond or the reputable estate agent or financial adviser. Charges for conveyancing in Jesmond differ, so it's sensible to request at least three costs illustrations from different solicitors. Make sure that you know what costs in the quote includes.

Completion is due on the disposal of our £250,000 garden flat in Jesmond on Monday in a week. The management company has quoted £372 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and previous years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge an administration fee for a flat conveyance in Jesmond?

Jesmond conveyancing on leasehold flats often requires the purchaser’s conveyancer sending questions for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address these enquiries the majority will be content to assist. They are entitled to charge a reasonable administration fee for responding to enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the information that you are referring to is £350, in some situations it is above £800. The administration charge required by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of rights and obligations in respect of administration fees, without which the charge is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that one has no option but to pay whatever is demanded should you wish to complete the sale of your home.

Jesmond Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

It would be wise to discover if there are any onerous prohibitions in the lease. For example some leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Jesmond. If you love the apartmentin Jesmond however your cat is not allowed to live with you then you will be presented with a hard determination. It would be sensible to find out as much as you can about the company managing the block as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you are frequently in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to every day matters like the cleanliness of the communal areas. Don't be shy to ask other people what they think of their service. In conclusion, be sure you know the dates that you are obliged pay the maintenance charge to the appropriate party and precisely what it includes. Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge liability?