When it comes to mortgage companies such as HSBC, do Stroud conveyancing practitioners have to pay a yearly amount to be on the list of approved solicitors?

We are unaware of any bank fees to register on their panel, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

Does a directory service exist listing Lloyds panel conveyancers in Stroud on the Council of Mortgage Lender’s Website?

No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association sites. Very few banks make their panel listings viewable on the web. Where you are seeking to appoint a Stroud solicitor on the Lloyds please make the most of our facility.

After shopping around on the internet I have found a Stroud conveyancer having checked that they are on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. Does my lawyer arrange the survey of the property?

Leeds Building Society will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Leeds Building Society 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 Stroud 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.

Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Stroud in advance of retaining solicitors. I have been told that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. The surveyor advised that some lenders may refuse to give a mortgage on this type of home.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different instructions for example to Halifax. If you e-mail us we can investigate further with the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Stroud. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Stroud especially if they are familiar with such properties in Stroud.

I am using a search engine for the words conveyancing in Stroud it brings up many solicitorsin the area. How do I determine which is the right conveyancer for the sale of my house?

The preferential way of seeking the right conveyancer is through a trusted referral, so ask friends and those you trust who have purchased a property in Stroud or the reputable estate agent or mortgage broker. Charges for conveyancing in Stroud differ, so it's sensible to obtain a minimum of three quotes from varying types of law firms. Dont forget to clarify what costs in the quote includes.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my basement flat in Stroud. Conveyancing is yet to be initiated, however I have recently had a quarterly service charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should discharge the maintenance contribution as normal as all ground rent and service charges will be apportioned as 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 subsequent invoice date. Most managing agents 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.

Stroud Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Questions you should ask Prior to buying

Generally speaking the outlay for major works tend not to be incorporated into the service charges, although a few managing agents in Stroud obliged tenants to pay into a sinking fund and this is used to offset against major works. Please note if it is no more than 80 years it will have adverse implications on the salability of the apartment. It is worth checking with your lender that they are happy with residual term of the lease. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will probably have to extend the lease at some point and you need to have some idea of how much this would cost. Remember, in most cases you will be be obliged to have been the owner of the premises for two years before you are entitled to exercise a lease extension. It would be wise to find out if the the lease includes any adverse restrictions in the lease. For example some leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Stroud. If you like the flatin Stroud but your dog can’t make the move with you then you will be faced hard determination.

Is there a distinction between surveying and conveyancing in Stroud?

Conveyancing - in Stroud or elsewhere - is the legal term given to transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It therefore includes the checking of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you are buying and will help you discover the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you a powerful reason for reducing the price down or asking the vendor to fix the problems before you move in.