Finally the sale completed on my house in Lanchester last April yet the purchaser is whats apping daily complaining that her lawyer needs to hear from myconveyancer. What should have happened following completion?

After completion of your house sale your lawyer should deliver the transfer documentation and all of the paperwork to the buyer’s lawyers. Depending on the transaction, your solicitor should also send confirmation that the legal charge in favour of the lender has been discharged to the purchasers lawyers. There are no post completion steps peculiar conveyancing in Lanchester.

What will a local search tell me concerning the property my wife and I purchasing in Lanchester?

Lanchester conveyancing often starts with the submitting local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search company such as Xpress Legal The local search plays a central part in most Lanchester conveyancing purchase; as long as you wish to avoid any unpleasant once you have moved into your new home. The search should reveal information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 subject headings.

The deeds to our property can not be found. The lawyers who dealt with the conveyancing in Lanchester 4 years ago are no longer around. What do I do?

In today’s world there are duplicates made of almost everything, and your solicitor should be aware precisely where to look for all the suitable documentation so you may buy or dispose of your house without any difficulty. Where duplicates can’t be found, your solicitor may be able to put in place insurance or indemnities against future claims on the property.

I am attracted to a two maisonettes in Lanchester both have about 50 years unexpired on the lease term. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

There are plenty of short leases in Lanchester. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a prescribed time frame. As the lease gets shorter the value of the lease reduces and results in it becoming more costly to extend the lease. This is why it is advisable to increase the term of the lease. More often than not it is difficult to sell a property with a short lease as mortgage lenders less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a protracted process. We advise that you seek professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this field.

I own a ground floor flat in Lanchester, conveyancing was carried out in 2008. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Comparable flats in Lanchester with over 90 years remaining are worth £197,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £55 invoiced every year. The lease runs out on 21st October 2079

With just 55 years unexpired the likely cost is going to range between £31,400 and £36,200 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs without more detailed investigations. You should not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be taken into account and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have since discovered that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues buying a leasehold house in Lanchester. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Lanchester ?

The majority of houses in Lanchester are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Lanchester so you should seriously consider looking for a Lanchester conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions such as requiring the freeholder’sconsent to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your conveyancer will report to you on the legal implications.