We were just about to sign contracts for a ground floor flat in Maidstone. We have hit a stumbling block. The loan offer with Alliance & Leicester runs out on 23/4/2025 but the owners are insisting on a completion date of 25/4/2025. Can one prolong the loan expiry date?
The best person to address this issue is your solicitors who will determine if he or she is better off negotiating with the lender, vendor’s lawyers, selling agents or possibly all parties based on the circumstances your house move to date.
It is 10 years ago since I bought my home in Maidstone. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been retained on the sale but I am unable to find my title deeds. Is this a major issue?
You need not be too concerned. Firstly there is a chance that the deeds will be with your lender or they may be in the possession of the lawyers who oversaw the purchase. Secondly the chances are that the property will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you own the property by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring current official copies of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Maidstone relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your property is unregistered it is more tricky but is resolvable.
If you had a top tip for selecting a conveyancing solicitor in Maidstone what would it be?
Do not opt for the lowest Maidstone conveyancing quote. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to property lawyers. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you know exactly what you’ll have to pay in advance.
Can you help - my lawyer says that absentee landlord insurance is required on my purchase. What is the level of cover for Maidstone conveyancing?
The right level of absentee landlord indemnity insurance should be dictated by who your lender. It would differ for example between Nationwide Building Society and Leeds Building Society. Conveyancing solicitors as opposed to members of the public take out such insurances.
Is it the case that all Maidstone CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel?
A selection of banks and building societies now utilise CQS as the kick off point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £245,000 and found one near me in Maidstone I like with open areas and station nearby, however it only has 49 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Maidstone suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?
Should you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term may be an issue. Reduce the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the property for at least twenty four months you can request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.
Given that I will soon spend 450k on 3 bedroom house in Maidstone I would like to talk to a conveyancer regarding thehome move prior to appointing the firm. Can this be arranged?
This is something that we encourage - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the conveyancer who will be conducting your property ownership legalities in Maidstone.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is an important person, not a file reference. The solicitors that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are quoted for residential conveyancing in Maidstone should be the figure that you are charged.