A relative suggested that where I am buying in Southwold I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?

A search of this type is usually included in the estimate for your Southwold conveyancing searches. It is not a small report of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out significant information about Southwold around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Southwold Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Local Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information concerning Southwold.

2 months have gone by following my purchase conveyancing in Southwold concluded. I have checked the Land Registry site which shows that I paid £200,000 when infact I paid £160,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the asset from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on last month in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Southwold is where the house is located. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Southwold are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Southwold you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Southwold may determine 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 residence.

In my capacity as executor for the will of my aunt I am disposing of a residence in Monmouth but I am based in Southwold. My solicitor (who is 250 kilometers awayhas requested that I execute a statutory declaration ahead of completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing solicitor in Southwold who can witness and place their company stamp on the document?

strictly speaking you are unlikely to be required to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily any notary public or qualified solicitor will be fine regardless of whether they are Southwold based

I am hoping to exchange soon on a studio apartment in Southwold. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they report fully within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Southwold should include some of the following:

Setting out your rights in relation to common areas in the block.By way of example, does the lease provide for a right of way over an accessway or hallways? Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat? Changes to the premises Does the lease require carpeting throughout thus preventing wood flooring? Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?

I own a 2 bed flat in Southwold, conveyancing formalities finalised June 2005. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Corresponding properties in Southwold with over 90 years remaining are worth £222,000. The ground rent is £50 yearly. The lease terminates on 21st October 2096

With just 70 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 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 are not able to supply the actual costs without more comprehensive investigations. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information without first getting professional advice.