A colleague suggested that if I am purchasing in Redditch I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?

A search of this type is sometimes included in the estimate for your Redditch conveyancing searches. It is a large report of more than thirty pages, listing and detailing significant information about Redditch around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime details, Local Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data regarding Redditch.

How does conveyancing in Redditch differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build residence in Redditch approach us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is constructed. This is because house builders in Redditch typically purchase the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Redditch or who has acted in the same development.

I am looking for a flat up to £245,000 and identified one round the corner in Redditch I like with a park and railway links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 52 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Redditch suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?

If you require a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term may be an issue. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you could ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.

I need to instruct a conveyancing practitioner in Redditch for my house move. Is it possible to check a firm’s complaints history with the legal regulator?

Members of the public may search for published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations stemming from inquisitions started on or after 1 January 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a firm's record, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For non-uk callers, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator could recorded telephone calls for training reasons.

I have just started marketing my garden apartment in Redditch.Conveyancing is yet to be initiated but I have just received a half-yearly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

The sensible thing to do is clear the maintenance contribution as usual as all rents and maintenance charges should be allottedas part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially