I am the registered owner of a freehold premises in Rugeley but still invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Rugeley and has limited impact for conveyancing in Rugeley 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 establishment of new rentcharges post 1977.

Previous rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be extinguished.

We had chosen solicitors locally in Rugeley on the Nottingham solicitor approved list. They have just billed me a further amount for handling the Nottingham mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by Nottingham?

Provided it is contained in their Terms of Engagement or estimate then yes your solicitor is entitled to levy a fee for this. This charge is not set by Nottingham but by your Rugeley lawyer. Some firms on the Nottingham panel will levy ’dealing with mortgage’ fee and others do not.

How can we tell if a Rugeley conveyancing solicitor on the Leeds Building Society panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Rugeley getting recommendations is a good start. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one advertising the lowest fees. We would always recommend that you speak with the solicitor handling your transaction.

I had an offer accepted on a house in Rugeley on 25/9/2024, valuation was booked 2 days later, all came back fine. Property lawyer retained, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Virgin Money and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel. Are Virgin Money entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?

A lender would not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Virgin Money to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

I have justbeen informed that Action Conveyancing have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Rugeley for a purchase of a leasehold flat 18 months ago. How can I check that the property is not still registered in the name of the previous owner?

The quickest method to see if the property is in your name, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Rugeley conveyancing specialists.

About to purchase a new build apartment in Rugeley. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here are examples of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Rugeley

Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Please supply a car parking plan. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in two weeks back in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Rugeley is where the house is located. Is there any guidance you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Rugeley are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Rugeley you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Rugeley may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.