We were just about to sign contracts for a garden flat in Somerset. We have hit a stumbling block. Our mortgage offer with runs out on but the vendors are putting forward a completion date of . Is it possible to extend the mortgage expiry date?

The best person to address this concern is your conveyancer who should assess if he or she is should be discussing with the bank, seller’s solicitors, property agents or conceivably all parties based on the history of your transaction to date.

Is there a reason why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Somerset costs more?

The conveyancing fees on a leasehold property in Somerset is inevitably greater as compared to a freehold residence. This is because there is an amount of additional investigations necessary in liaising with the freeholder and management company to obtain information about whether the rent and maintenance charges have been discharged and whether there are any large sums expected to be spent in the foreseeable future on repairs or maintenance of the building.

My wife and I are buying a flat in Somerset. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a conveyancer? On completion day we have to deposit funds into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our money?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

I am due to move home in . Should my conveyancing solicitor communicate with the removal company on the completion day. On a separate note, can you recommend a removal company in Somerset. Conveyancing lawyer was organised before I stumbled across your site.

On the afternoon of completion you will need to pick up the keys from the property agent but this can only happen when the vendors lawyers inform the agent that they acknowledge receipt of the completion payment and the keys can be handed over. After that you will need to inform the removal men that you are ready to move in. As a matter of policy we do not recommend a particular removal company but can assist you in locating a residential property solicitor in Somerset or a legal practice that specialises in conveyancing in Somerset.

My partner and I are spending time looking at houses in Somerset and I am now considering a potential offer. Should I already have a in place at this stage? I will be getting a mortgage with .

It would be prudent 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 forward their contact information on to the EA. Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with , make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the conveyancing panel.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £235,500 and found one round the corner in Somerset I like with a park and station in the vicinity, however it's only got 52 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Somerset for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the property for at least twenty four months you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Somerset - Sample of Questions you should ask before buying

This information is helpful as a) areas can result in problems in the building as the common areas may start to deteriorate where repairs are not paid for b) if the leaseholders have an issue with the managing agents you will need to have complete disclosure How much is the ground rent and service charge? The best form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this situation the leaseholders benefit from control and although a managing agent is usually retained if the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves.