I am the registered owner of a freehold property in New Mills yet charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in New Mills and has limited impact for conveyancing in New Mills but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence after 2037 will be dispensed with completely.

I have just over seventy years remaining on my lease and require a lease extension for my apartment in New Mills. Conveyancing solicitors on the Virgin panel can deal with such extensions right?

Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 23/2/2025 the requirements read as follows :

What can a local search tell me regarding the property my wife and I buying in New Mills?

New Mills conveyancing often commences with the submitting local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations for instance PSG The local search is essential in every New Mills conveyancing purchase; as long as you wish to avoid any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search will supply data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable to the premises (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 thirteen topic headings.

I'm purchasing my first flat in New Mills benefiting from help to buy. The builders refused to reduce the price so I negotiated £7000 of additionals instead. The estate agent suggested that I not to tell my conveyancer about this extras as it will jeopardize my mortgage with Aldermore. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I'm purchasing a property in New Mills. I can find my conveyancer's company on the Law Society's list, but I can't see my lawyer's name as listed on the regulator's website. Is this a big problem?

Not all staff in the law firm must be listed by the regulator. Provided there is someone qualified to 'oversee' the conveyancing, the actual day-to-day activity can be conducted by unqualified staff.