We were about to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Lewes listed by you but have come across some other quotes on the internet appear cheaper – how come?

There are many firms of solicitors promoting so-called £99 conveyancing, unfortunately it’s common in such cases for supplementalcosts result in the completion fee mounting up beyond all recognition. In accordance with regulatory requirements costs set out in terms and conditions should be transparent and reasonable invoiced The conveyancers that we put forward for conveyancing in Lewes clearly state all costs for the property you intend tobuy.

I am assisting my step-mother sell her property in Lewes. Will the conveyancing solicitor arrange an energy assessment or it is for me to coordinate?

After the abolition of HIPs, EPC’s became a compulsory component of selling a house. An energy assessment needs to be commissioned in advance of the property being marketed. This is not as aspect of the sale process that law firms ordinarily arrange. Where you are instructing a Lewes conveyancing practitioner they might be able to arrange energy performance certificates given their contacts with long established local providers

The formalities of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Lewes. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?

All lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Department at head office. In most cases complaints to a lender are sorted out very quickly. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.

After what feels like an age I have had an offer on a maisonette in Lewes accepted, but there is a chain. The vendors have placed an offer on somewhere, however it’s not yet agreed to, and have viewings of other apartments in the pipeline. I have instructed a bricks and mortar conveyancing solicitor in Lewes. What should be my next step? At what stage do I apply for the mortgage with ?

It is understandable to have anxieties where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to incur expenses prematurely (home loan application is approx one thousand pounds, then valuation, Lewes conveyancing search fees, etc). First, you should ensure that your is on the conveyancing panel. Concerning the subsequent stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your transaction, attraction to this property and on the state of the market. During a hot market some buyers would apply for the mortgage with and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they ask their to move forward with the conveyancing in Lewes.

I'm purchasing my first flat in Lewes with a mortgage from . The developers would not move on the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The house builders rep told me not inform my lawyer about this side-deal as it will affect my mortgage with . Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I have just started marketing my ground floor flat in Lewes. Conveyancing has not commenced, but I have just received a quarterly 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 service charge as usual because all rents and maintenance invoices will be allotted on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer until 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.

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

Please note if it is fewer than eighty years it will impact the marketability of the apartment. Check with your bank that they are content with remaining years on the lease. A short lease means that you will almost definitely need a lease extension at some point and it is worth discovering what this will be. For most Leweslease extensions you will be be obliged to have been the owner of the property for a couple of years before you are legally able to carry out a lease extension. How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments?

I have checked your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the lender conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the bank approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?

Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the bank conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the bank solicitor panel.