What does a local search reveal regarding the house we're buying in Waterhouses?

Waterhouses conveyancing often starts with the ordering local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search organisations for instance Searchflow The local search plays a central part in most Waterhouses conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any unpleasant surprises after you move into your property. The search will supply data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 topic sections.

Me and my brother purchased a 4 bedroom Victorian property in Waterhouses. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Britannia. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You should read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Waterhouses and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also enquire as to the situation with your conveyancing lawyer who carried out the work.

About to purchase a new build flat in Waterhouses. Conveyancing is daunting 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 is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Waterhouses

Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose?

I have been pointed in your direction by a number of estate agents in Waterhouses to get a quote from a conveyancer using your seach tool. Is there a financial incentive for Estate Agents to promote your services over and above alternative conveyancing organisations?

We don’t make any referral fee for pointing buyers and sellers our way. We thought it would be too underhand a fee because members of the public would think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Waterhouses conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Waterhouses conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggest that you talk with two or three firms including non Waterhouses conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions might be of use:

What are the charges for lease extension conveyancing? How many lease extensions have they carried out in Waterhouses in the last 12 months?

Waterhouses Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries Prior to buying

Most Waterhouses leasehold apartments will incur a service bill for the upkeep of the block levied by the management company. Where you purchase the apartment you will have to meet this contribution, usually quarterly throughout the year. This may vary from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built blocks. There will also be a ground rent to be met annual, ordinarily this is not a large amount, say approximately £50-£100 but you should to enquire as sometimes it could be many hundreds of pounds. What prohibitions are contained in the Waterhouses Lease? How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments?