A relative pointed out to me me that in purchasing a property in Woodingdean there may be various restrictions preventing external changes to a property. Is this right?

There are a number of properties in Woodingdean which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to execute external variations. Part of the conveyancing in Woodingdean should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

is it true that all Woodingdean solicitor practices on the Santander conveyancing panel are governed by the SRA?

As solicitors, in order to be on the Santander approved list of solicitors they would need to be governed by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Some mortgage companies do permit licenced conveyancers on their panel and in that case the practice would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

I am purchasing a property in Woodingdean. An unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Co-operative be concerned?

As you are obtaining a mortgage with Co-operative your lawyer must check the formal instructions contained in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Co-operative. The CML Handbook includes minimum provisions for solar panel roof-space leases, and property lawyers are required to report to Co-operative where a lease does not satisfy these requirements. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not isolated to Woodingdean.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in last month in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Woodingdean is the location of the property. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Woodingdean are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Woodingdean you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Woodingdean may ascertain 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 property.

Is it best to use a Woodingdean conveyancing solicitor in close proximity to the house I am hoping to buy? We have a good friend who can execute the conveyancing however her office is 300miles away.

The benefit of a high street Woodingdean conveyancing firm is that you can drop in to execute documents, present your identification documents and apply pressure on them where appropriate. Having local Woodingdean know how is a plus. However it's more important to get someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If other friends have used your friend and they were happy that must outweigh using an unknown Woodingdean conveyancing solicitor just because they are based in the area.

We expect to complete our sale of a £200,000 garden flat in Woodingdean next Monday. The freeholder has quoted £348 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and 3 years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Woodingdean?

Woodingdean conveyancing on leasehold flats usually necessitates the purchaser’s lawyer sending questions for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to answer such questions the majority will be content to assist. They are at liberty to charge a reasonable administration fee for answering enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average costs for the paperwork that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some situations it is in excess of £800. The management information fee required by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of rights and obligations in relation to administration fees, without which the invoice is technically not due. Reality however dictates that one has little option but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to sell the property.

I inherited a studio flat in Woodingdean, conveyancing was carried out 7 years ago. Can you let me have an estimate of the premium that my landlord can legally expect in return for granting a renewal of my lease? Equivalent properties in Woodingdean with a long lease are worth £222,000. The ground rent is £50 levied per year. The lease terminates on 21st October 2095

With just 71 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 as well as costs.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive investigations. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be taken into account and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward based on this information without first getting professional advice.

Should I be concerned if there is a problem with the searches conducted as part of my conveyancing in Woodingdean?

Ordinarily, almost all adverse entries disclosed in Woodingdean conveyancing search responses can be addressed prior to completion or indemnity insurance can be obtained. It is crucial to remember that although you intend on buying the property and may be content to live with the search results, your mortgage lender may not, and when all said and done they have the final say.