When can the exchange of contracts occur in domestic conveyancing in Whiteley and am I required to be at the lawyers office?

Where you are in close proximity to one of the conveyancing solicitors in Whiteley you are welcome to attend to sign the paperwork. However, the lender approved solicitors we work with offer a countrywide conveyancing service and give just as diligent and professional a job for you when dealing with you digitally. The executing of the property agreement is not when everything is set in stone. Signing on the dotted line simply enables the conveyancer to exchange contracts at the appropriate time, which is ordinarily shortly after signing. The procedure is is usually a five minute process, although where a long "chain" is involved, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Whiteley)to be in the office available at the end of the phone to exchange contracts.

I am looking to buy a house and need a conveyancing solicitor in Whiteley who is on the Barclays solicitor. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a firm?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Barclays in certain locations such as Whiteley. We dont recommend any particular firm.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a simple, chain free conveyancing. Whiteley is the location of the property. Can you offer any assistance?

Flying freeholds in Whiteley are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Whiteley you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Whiteley 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.

Am I best advised to choose a Whiteley conveyancing practitioner based in the vicinity that I am purchasing? We have a good friend who can handle the legal formalities but his firm is located 200miles drive away.

The primary upside of using a high street Whiteley conveyancing firm is that you can attend the office to execute paperwork, deliver your ID and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local knowledge which is a bonus. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If other friends have used your friend and on the whole were happy that should trump using an unknown Whiteley conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being round the corner.

I work for a reputable estate agent office in Whiteley where we have witnessed a few leasehold sales put at risk as a result of short leases. I have received inconsistent advice from local Whiteley conveyancing firms. Can you clarify whether the seller of a flat can commence the lease extension formalities for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

Provided that the seller has owned the lease for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to kick-start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. The benefit of this is that the buyer need not have to wait 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment needs to be completed prior to, or at the same time as completion of the sale.

An alternative approach is to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.

I purchased a 1st floor flat in Whiteley, conveyancing was carried out in 2009. How much will my lease extension cost? Equivalent flats in Whiteley with over 90 years remaining are worth £201,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 yearly. The lease terminates on 21st October 2090

With just 65 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to span between £13,300 and £15,400 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.