I have just been advised by my lender that my Stockton on Tees lawyer is not on the bank Conveyancing panel. How can I be sure if this is correct?

Your first step should be to call your Stockton on Tees lawyer directly. You lawyer should inform you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the conveyancing panel for your mortgage company.

five months have elapsed since my purchase conveyancing in Stockton on Tees completed. I have checked the Land Registry website which shows that I paid £200,000 when infact I paid £170,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the residence from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

How does conveyancing in Stockton on Tees differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Stockton on Tees approach us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is ready to move into. This is because house builders in Stockton on Tees typically acquire the site, 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 Stockton on Tees or who has acted in the same development.

Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Stockton on Tees before instructing conveyancers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. My surveyor advised that some banks will not grant a mortgage on this type of property.

It depends who your proposed lender is. HSBC has different requirements from Birmingham Midshires. Should you wish to telephone us we can check via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Stockton on Tees. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Stockton on Tees to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.

Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Stockton on Tees. Before I set the wheels in motion I would like to find out the unexpired term of the lease.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Stockton on Tees - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title. For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

Stockton on Tees Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries before Purchasing

Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge liability? Many Stockton on Tees leasehold flats will incur a service bill for maintenance of the building invoiced on behalf of the freeholder. Where you acquire the property you will have to meet this amount, normally quarterly accross the year. This could differ from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large common grounds. There will also be a rentcharge to be met annual, ordinarily this is not a significant figure, say around £50-£100 but you need to check as on occasion it can be prohibitively expensive. Make sure you enquire if the the lease contains any unreasonable restrictions in the lease. For instance it is very common in Stockton on Tees leases that pets are not permitted in in a block in Stockton on Tees. If you love the flatin Stockton on Tees however your cat can’t live with you then you have a very hard choice.