I am helping my mother sell her house in Seaview. Will the conveyancing solicitor arrange an EPC or it is for the seller to coordinate?

Following the demise of HIPs, energy assessments remained a mandatory element of moving property. An energy assessment should be to hand prior to the property being marketed. It is not as aspect of the sale process that law firms normally organise. If you are using a Seaview conveyancing practitioner they might be willing to arrange energy performance certificates due to their relationships with long established local energy assessors

We expect to receive a OIP from HSBC this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do HSBC recommend any Seaview solicitors on the HSBC conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?

You will need to appoint Seaview solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the HSBC conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and HSBC through the process.

Having read lots of mortgage guides, I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Seaview solicitor - who is on the Santander conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?

Santander will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Santander will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own Seaview surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.

Should my conveyancer be asking questions about flooding during the conveyancing in Seaview.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for conveyancers conducting conveyancing in Seaview. There are those who purchase a house in Seaview, completely aware that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, leaving to one side the physical destruction, where a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, satisfactory insurance cover, or sell the premises. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.

Lawyers are not best placed to impart advice on flood risk, however there are a number of checks that can be carried out by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better appreciation of the risks in Seaview. The conventional set of property information forms sent to a buyer’s lawyer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) includes a standard question of the vendor to find out if the property has ever been flooded. In the event that the property has been flooded in past which is not disclosed by the seller, then a purchaser could bring a legal claim for losses stemming from an inaccurate answer. The purchaser’s conveyancers may also order an enviro search. This should reveal whether there is any known flood risk. If so, additional investigations should be carried out.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Seaview. Conveyancing is necessary evil 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.

Set out below is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Seaview

Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. Please supply a car parking plan. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose?

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on last month in what was supposed to be a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Seaview is where the house is located. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Seaview are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Seaview you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Seaview may ascertain 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 premises.

I need to find a conveyancing solicitor for purchase conveyancing in Seaview. I have stumble across a site which looks to be the ideal offering If there is a chance to get all this stuff done via phone that would be ideal. Do I need to be concerned? What should out be looking out for?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?