My wife and I are buying a maisonette in Balsall Common. My lawyer is not on the bank solicitor list. Can I still appoint my Balsall Common conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the mortgage company panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?

You must have a solicitor to deal with the formalities when you require a loan to buy your property. The property lawyer will conduct all the essential due diligence on the property, ensuring that you’re properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the required mortgage paperwork is dealt with. You can appoint a Balsall Common property lawyer of your choosing. However, if the lawyer appointed is not on the bank solicitor panel additional costs will be levied as separate legal representation will be need by the lender. Bank panel applications may be submitted, so where your conveyancer has not previously sought membership they should do so.

Will my solicitor be raising questions about flooding during the conveyancing in Balsall Common.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for lawyers dealing with homes in Balsall Common. There are those who buy a property in Balsall Common, fully aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical destruction, where a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate building insurance, or sell the premises. There are steps that can be taken during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the purchaser.

Lawyers are not best placed to give advice on flood risk, however there are a numerous searches that may be carried out by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which should figure out the risks in Balsall Common. The standard completed inquiry forms sent to a buyer’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) contains a standard question of the seller to discover whether the property has ever been flooded. In the event that the residence has been flooded in past and is not revealed by the vendor, then a buyer could issue a compensation claim as a result of such an inaccurate reply. A purchaser’s solicitors may also commission an enviro search. This will reveal whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, further investigations should be conducted.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Balsall Common?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Balsall Common. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in Balsall Common. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Here are examples of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Balsall Common

Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. Please supply a car parking plan. Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and found one close by in Balsall Common I like with open areas and railway links nearby, the downside is that it's only got 49 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Balsall Common suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you need a home loan that many years may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you could ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.