I am in the throes of porting my current homeowner loan to a BTL Virgin Money mortgage. I have been informed by my broker that I must appoint a conveyancer for this. I got in contact with my previous Wilmslow conveyancing solicitor who acted on my behalf when I initially purchased the premises. The costs illustration supplied of £550 is surprising as I am not require purchase conveyancing - it’s simply a bog-standard refinance.

The quote is fractionally on the expensive side. If you are willing to expend time contrasting quotes you could get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by say a hundred pounds. That being said, if you were content with the service the firm offered you couldcome to regret choosing an an untested lawyer. If is important to check that the solicitor can represent Virgin Money. You can employ our search tool to get a quote a Wilmslow conveyancing firm on the Virgin Money approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Wilmslow.

I have given 8 weeks notice to my current landlord and must leave my rented flat in Wilmslow by 15/4/2025. Conveyancing on my purchase is underway. How realistic is it to complete in six weeks as don't want to have to find short term accommodation?

It is unwise to serve notice for your letting unless exchange of contracts has taken place. If you have not previously done so, speak to your solicitor and request that they chase the other solicitors, try to get a realistic time scale from them that all parties will work to achieve

I own a freehold residence in Wilmslow yet invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Wilmslow and has limited impact for conveyancing in Wilmslow but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the creation of new rentcharges post 1977.

Previous rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 is to be dispensed with completely.

Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on our sale of a £150,000 maisonette in Wilmslow on Tuesday in a week. The managing agents has quoted £336 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and 3 years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Wilmslow?

Wilmslow conveyancing on leasehold flats ordinarily involves fees being levied by landlords agents :

Completing pre-contract questions Where consent is required before sale in Wilmslow Supplying insurance information Deeds of covenant upon sale Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your solicitor will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Wilmslow leasehold premises is £350. For Wilmslow conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are required to provide the information.

Wilmslow Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries before buying

Many Wilmslow leasehold apartments will incur a service bill for maintenance of the block set on behalf of the landlord. Where you purchase the property you will have to pay this contribution, usually quarterly throughout the year. This can vary from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large communal grounds. There will also be a rentcharge for you to pay yearly, ordinarily this is not a exorbitant figure, say approximately £50-£100 but you need to enquire it because on occasion it can be many hundreds of pounds. The answer will be important as a) areas could result in problems for the block as the communal areas may begin to deteriorate if repairs remain unpaid b) if the leaseholders have a dispute with the running of the building you will need to know about it

Developers have recommended to me a solicitor and I've obtained an estimate from them. They are almost £300 less expensive than my own Wilmslow lawyer. What's the catch?

Developers normally have lists of solicitors who are quick and who know the builder's contract and property lawyer. Plenty of developers offer an incentive to choose their approved property lawyer for this reason, any increased fees can be avoided and a developer won't suggest a conveyancing factory and run the risk of having the conveyancing delayed when they need an exchange within a tight time frame. The argument for not opting for the suggested solicitor is that they may be unwilling to 'push' your interests for fear of upsetting the sellers. Where you have concerns that this may be the situation you should keep with your local Wilmslow conveyancing practitioner.