My mortgage broker has requested my Old Coulsdon solicitor’s panel member for the Nat West conveyancing panel. Can you suggest how I discover this. I have contacted my local Old Coulsdon branch but they cant find it on their system.

Have you tried speaking to your Old Coulsdon property lawyer about this?. They maintain a central record lender panel numbers.

I am acquiring a newly built flat in Old Coulsdon and my lawyer is informing me that she has to the lender to disclose incentives from the seller. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to sign contracts and my preference is not to prolong the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on a bank panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

My cousin has urged me to use his lawyers for conveyancing in Old Coulsdon. Should I choose my own solicitor?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Old Coulsdon conveyancing lawyer the best way to choose a conveyancing lawyer is to seek feedback from friends or relatives who have actually used the solicitor you're considering.

Last July I purchased a leasehold flat in Old Coulsdon. Am I liable to pay service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

I own a ground floor flat in Old Coulsdon. Given that I can not reach agreement with the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the premium due for the purchase of the freehold?

Where there is a absentee landlord or if there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant statutes it is possible to make an application to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to arrive at the sum to be paid.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Old Coulsdon property is 223 Brighton Road in September 2013. The premium payable for the acquisition freehold of the properties should be £10,934 (Ten thousand,nine hundred and thirty four pounds) This case was in relation to 3 flats. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 75 years.

Why do Old Coulsdon conveyancing costs are more expensive for leasehold and freehold properties?

Leasehold conveyancing in Old Coulsdon can involve additional due diligence such as investigating the lease, communicating with the freeholder, obtaining up to date rent receipts, landlord’s consents, management company’s accounts etc.