I am need of leasehold conveyancing for an apartment in a relatively new development (five years old) in Gillingham. Almost all the flats have already been sold. Do I need carry out the local searches as part of conveyancing in Gillingham?

If you are purchasing a property with the assistance of a mortgage, your mortgage company will insist on some (many) of the searches so you'll have no choice. If not, then Gillingham conveyancing searches are for you to decide upon. No doubt your conveyancer, will ’encourage’, perhaps strongly, that you should not go ahead without searches, but he or she has a professional duty to do this. One thing to bear in mind; if you are likely to sell the house one day, it may be of interest to your future buyer what the searches contain. Sometimes houses with no practical issues can still throw up adverse search results. But if you insist that your lawyer to proceed without searches then your lawyer will have to follow your instructions or you may need to instruct a new lawyer for your conveyancing in Gillingham.

Why do I have to pay up front when it comes to conveyancing in Gillingham?

Where you are retaining lawyers for conveyancing in Gillingham your lawyer will request that you place them with funds to cover the the cost of the conveyancing searches. This will be the total of the cost of the conveyancing searches. When the deposit is as part of the sale price then this will be required immediately prior to exchange of contracts. The final balance that is due will be payable a few days prior to the day of completion.

I am the only beneficiary of my late grandmother’s will with all property in now in my sole name, including the house in Gillingham. Conveyancing formalities meant that the Land Registry date was in . I plan to dispose of the property. I understand that there is a CML 6 month 'rule', which means that my proprietorship may be treated the same way as if I'd bought the house in . Is the property unsalable for six months?

The CML handbook requires solicitors to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." By the strict wording you may be affected by that. How sensible a view mortgage companies take of it, depend on the bank as this clause chiefly exists to identify the purchase and immediately sell or the wholesaling and assigning of properties.

Is it the case that all Gillingham solicitor practices on the conveyancing panel are overseen by the SRA?

As solicitors, in order to be on the conveyancing panel they would need to be governed by the SRA. Some lenders do list licenced conveyancers on their panel and in such a situation the practice would be governed by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

My wife and I are at the point of viewing houses in Gillingham and I am about to put in an offer. Should I already have a appointed at this stage? I am planning to take a home loan with .

It would be advisable to instigate your search sooner rather than later. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on to the EA. Given that you are getting a mortgage with , make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the conveyancing panel.

I need to instruct a conveyancing practitioner in Gillingham for my sale. Is it possible to check a firm’s record with the legal regulator?

Anyone may review published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions arising from inquisitions commenced on or after Jan 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For details Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For callers outside the UK, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator may monitor telephone calls for training purposes.

I own a leasehold flat in Gillingham. Conveyancing and mortgage are in place. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing solicitor in Gillingham who previously acted has long since retired. Do I pay?

The first thing you should do is contact the Land Registry to make sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to instruct a Gillingham conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Gillingham - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

How long is the Lease? Is anyone aware of any major works anticipated that will increase the service fees? What is the service charge and ground rent on the apartment?