Reply With QuoteNo, use a local person. They'll be more familiar with the issues and potentially know some contacts, the vendor's solicitors, etc. Assume it's about £1000 or so to buy.
I need to find a conveyancer for a friend's flat purchase. Having never bought a flat I am really not sure of the details around leaseholds etc (although I understand the concept) so can't really advise.
Can I use any web conveyancer or would someone be happy to recommend someone.
thanks
No, use a local person. They'll be more familiar with the issues and potentially know some contacts, the vendor's solicitors, etc. Assume it's about £1000 or so to buy.
This. Your friend shouldn’t skimp on professional advice for probably the biggest purchase he/she will make.Originally Posted by catch21
Where is your friend located? I can recommend a local firm in SE London if needed
Acquisition of a leasehold property is about the most potentially complex property transaction most people could ever make.
It really is worth finding a good specialist solicitor to handle the work - do not skimp on the task. Do not use pile-high/sell-cheap conveyancing outfits. Just don't.
Beyond the technical pitfalls of lease drafting (there are many) do carry out your own research on the prospective deal and work out whether the property is actually what you (your friend) think it is. What is the ground rent? What are the ground rent review provisions? will the ground rent go above £250pa (outside London) - if it does, it's a major issue. Who is the freeholder? who manages the property? is there a sinking fund? Exactly what parts of the property are demised in the lease / retained in the freehold? Are there any construction problems being loaded onto the leaseholders? Are there any covenants against subletting? Who are the neighbours?
And on it goes.
When I bought my first flat, I asked the estate agent for a copy of the lease - he looked at me as if I had driven over his dog and said he'd never been asked 'in all his years' - I'd have to ask the vendors solicitors.
Just because others suppose that all leaseholds are the same, don't be like them.
There is one in my networking group who is well respected and lots of the people within there recommend.
I've not used him myself but know at least 20 people who have.
I used an online one last time I bought a property and never again! (i'm sure some are good)
PM me if you want the guys details apparently he's quite reasonable too.
We will be using my home address (Ruislip for correspondence) but my friend is moving from Hong Kong to the UK.
Flat will be in Central London
Pm sent
Sent from my SM-T800 using TZ-UK mobile app
Posting Permissions