My fiance’s uncle is a conveyancing practitioner. I anticipate that I can be offered mate’s fee for conveyancing, However if that does not come materialise, what level of costs would I typically be looking at for conveyancing in Neath?

Do compare pricing. Make use of our search tool on this page. You will notice that charges will vary but service levels do are distinct between conveyancers as is true with the vast majority of professional services.

I used Action Conveyancing several years ago for my conveyancing in Neath. Now, I need my files however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing 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 Neath of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, 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 Neath differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build residence in Neath come to us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is finished. This is because house builders in Neath typically acquire 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 Neath or who has acted in the same development.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my ground floor flat in Neath. Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon, however I have just received a half-yearly service charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should discharge the invoice as usual given that all rents and maintenance invoices will be apportioned on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

I am the registered owner of a 1st floor flat in Neath, conveyancing formalities finalised May 2009. How much will my lease extension cost? Corresponding flats in Neath with over 90 years remaining are worth £195,000. The ground rent is £45 invoiced every year. The lease ends on 21st October 2090

With just 64 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £14,300 and £16,400 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more comprehensive due diligence. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

I own a leasehold flat in Neath. Conveyancing was completed in last year. I have read on a number of consumer forums that I mustn’t let the the remaining lease term to fall too low. Why is that a problem?

Neath residential long term leases are for a set term - usually 99 years when they are first granted. However a significant flats in Neath were built or converted in the 70’s80’s and so these leases now have fewer than 80 years left to run. That may seem like a long time however Banks, Building Societies and other mortgage lenders generally require leases to have at least seventy five years unexpired to be mortgageable. This means that when you come to sell the property you will need a lease extension if you are approaching eighty years. To maximise the marketability of your property you should be thinking about whether to extend your lease long before you come to sell it. Furthermore strong financial reasons to taking action before the lease reaches even 80 years as when the lease is less than eighty years the amount to be paid to extend starts to get a lot more expensive.