We are close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our home in Longfield and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed land that was not decontaminated. A high street Longfield lawyer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers used a national conveyancing practice as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Longfield. We have lived in Longfield for 5 years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to get in touch with our local Authority to obtain clarification that there is no issue.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor already. Are they able to advise? You need to check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same sickness)

I used Wolstenholmes a few years ago for my conveyancing in Longfield. Now, I need my documents however cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Longfield of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

How does conveyancing in Longfield differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Longfield contact us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is built. This is because new home sellers in Longfield usually buy the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Longfield or who has acted in the same development.

I'm remortgaging my existing home to a buy to let loan with Halifax and I will use the rest of the raised equity as a down payment on further property. The location we are talking about is Longfield. Will your solicitors be able to act for both sets of mortgage companies and tie in the two deals?

Do use our comparison tool on this site to check that the solicitors are on the appropriate lender panels. Assuming that they are the solicitor will be able to simultaneously deal with the two transactions but you should have a chat with you solicitor and make clear your expectations and needs.

In relation to leasehold conveyancing in Longfield what are the most common lease defects?

Leasehold conveyancing in Longfield is not unique. All leases are drafted differently and drafting errors can sometimes mean that certain provisions are missing. For example, if your lease is missing any of the following, it could be defective:

Insurance obligations

A defective lease will likely cause problems when trying to sell a property as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. Yorkshire Building Society, The Royal Bank of Scotland, and TSB all have express requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. Where a lender has been advised by their lawyers that the lease is defective they may refuse to provide security, forcing the buyer to pull out.

I inherited a split level flat in Longfield, conveyancing having been completed in 2005. How much will my lease extension cost? Equivalent properties in Longfield with a long lease are worth £197,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £55 invoiced annually. The lease terminates on 21st October 2081

With just 55 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £31,400 and £36,200 as well as professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to advice on the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.