I am purchasing a property for cash in Clacton On Sea. I have lived for the last Seventeen years in Clacton On Sea. Conveyancing searches are a lot of money. As I have knowledge of the area and road intimately must I have all the conveyancing searches?
Provided that you do not need a home loan, then all but one or two of the Clacton On Sea conveyancing searches are at your discretion. Your lawyer will 'advise', no-doubt strongly, that you should have searches carried out, but he has a professional duty to do this. One thing to bear in mind; if you are likely to sell the house one day, it will likely be be of interest to your prospective purchaser what the searches reveal. Sometimes properties with no practical issues can still throw up unpredicted search results. A good conveyancing solicitor in Clacton On Sea should be able to give you some helpful advice here.
About to place a bid on a leasehold flat in Clacton On Sea. The selling agents tell me that it is normal for flats in Clacton On Sea to have less than 75 years left on the lease. I am obtaining a mortgage with Chelsea Building Society. Is this going to be acceptable if the lease has 69 years left.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 19/1/2026 the requirements read as follows :
What can a local search reveal regarding the house we're purchasing in Clacton On Sea?
Clacton On Sea conveyancing often starts with the submitting local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search company for instance Searchflow The local search plays an important part in most Clacton On Sea conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any nasty surprises after you move into your property. The search will provide data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of thirteen topic headings.
I am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and found one close by in Clacton On Sea I like with amenity areas and transport links nearby, however it's only got 49 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Clacton On Sea in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?
Should you need a home loan that many years will likely be an issue. Reduce the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you can request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.
When it comes to my conveyancing in Clacton On Sea should I be charged VAT on the following: (1) Land reg fee on purchase (2) Pre - completion search fee (3) SDLT E submission on purchase (4) Bank TT fee
(1) Land reg fee on purchase - No (2) Pre - completion search fees -No, (such conveyancing searches are HMLR ones and means £4 and possibly £2 bankruptcy per name on your mortgage) (3) SDLT E submission on your purchase - There is no VAT on Stamp Duty. However if the firm is charging a stamp duty e-submission fee as part of their services - some Clacton On Sea conveyancers do - that will incur VAT(4) Bank transfer fee - Yes it is for the property lawyer's time in submitting the funds this way.