We note that you have a search directory identifying solicitors on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a commission if I retain them for our own conveyancing in Rothbury?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Aldermore conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Rothbury.

My aunt passed away last year and as sole heir and executor I was left the house in Rothbury. The house had a relatively small loan remaining of approximately £5k. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Clydesdale, pay off the mortgage. Is this possible?

Given you intend to re-mortgage then Clydesdale will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Clydesdale conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Clydesdale mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and found one close by in Rothbury I like with a park and transport links nearby, the downside is that it only has 49 years on the lease. There is not much else in Rothbury in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a short lease?

Should you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease will likely be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.

Am I right to be concerned about third parties that I am dealing with are recommending an online conveyancing firm rather than a High Street Rothbury conveyancing company?

As is the case with lots of professional services, often input from relatives can be extremely useful or valuable. Nevertheless there are lots of players in a conveyancing transaction; estate agents, financial adviser and lenders may suggest conveyancers to instruct. Sometimes these conveyancers might be known to one of the organisations as being good in their field, but occasionally there behind the scenes financial incentive behind the recommendation. You have the right to select your own conveyancer. You need to be aware that most lenders specify a panel list of lawyers you must use for the lender aspect of your home move.

I have just started marketing my garden apartment in Rothbury. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed, however I have recently received a yearly maintenance charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should pay the maintenance contribution as you normally would because all ground rent and maintenance invoices will be apportioned as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you will be reimbursed by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

Rothbury Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Queries Prior to Purchasing

Plenty Rothbury leasehold properties will incur a service bill for the upkeep of the block set on behalf of the freeholder. If you acquire the flat you will have to meet this contribution, usually in instalments throughout the year. This may be anything from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large communal grounds. There will also be a rentcharge for you to pay annual, this is usually not a significant figure, say around £25-£75 but you need to check it because sometimes it can be many hundreds of pounds. Is the freehold owned jointly by the leaseholders? Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge payments?