We have very assertive vendors who has suggested a lock out contract with a deposit 10k. Are such agreements sensible?

Exclusivity contracts are agreements between a property seller and purchaser granting the buyer exclusive rights to the sale of the premises for a certain period of time. For all intents and purposes, a lock out is a document specifying that you should be issued with a contract at a later time being the main conveyancing contract. It tends to be used for buyer confidence though in many situations, the seller may stand to benefit from such agreements as well. There are many positives and negatives to having them but you should to check with your lawyer but note that it may result in incurring extra in conveyancing charges. In light of this these contracts are unusual in relation to conveyancing in St Helier.

We are buying a property in St Helier. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a lawyer? On the day of competition we have to put our life savings into their account. What is the protection 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 assisting my step-mother sell her flat in St Helier. Does the solicitor commission the EPC or it is for me to see to?

After the demise of Home Packs, energy assessments was maintained a mandatory component of moving property. An energy performance certificate should be commissioned before the property is marketed. This is not a task that conveyancers normally organise. Where you are instructing a St Helier conveyancing lawyer they may help arrange energy assessments due to their relationships with long established St Helier accredited person

Are all St Helier Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the conveyancing panel?

Some major banks and building societies now use CQS as the kick off point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.

I am purchasing my first flat in St Helier with a mortgage from . The developers refused to reduce the amount so I negotiated 6k of extras instead. The house builders rep advised me not disclose to my solicitor about the extras as it will impact my mortgage with . Is this normal?.

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 am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and identified one near me in St Helier I like with a park and transport links in the vicinity, however it only has 49 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in St Helier for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?

Should you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you could ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this.

Are there any apps to help identify a St Helier law firm on the conveyancing panel? I drive a motor bike and am willing to travel upto 10kilometers to meet the lawyer.

You can use the facility on this website. Please select a bank and your location and you will see a number of St Helier conveyancing lawyers based on proximity. We have listed some St Helier conveyancing firms at the bottom of this page and you can telephone them to verify if they are on the member panel