We were about to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in St Helier listed on your site but have come across alternative costs illustrations on the internet appear less expensive – how come?

One can find a variety of conveyancing companies offering theoretically looks to be extremely cheap conveyancing in St Helier. We would urge you to give due consideration as to how much you respect your own move to want to be penny wise pound foolish in relation to the standard of the legal work. Many of them accentuate a bargain fee to grab your attention but hide supplemental fees in the fine print..

Should my solicitor be raising enquiries regarding flooding as part of the conveyancing in St Helier.

Flooding is a growing risk for conveyancers dealing with homes in St Helier. There are those who purchase a house in St Helier, completely expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical damage, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, satisfactory building insurance, or dispose of the property. Steps can be carried out during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the buyer.

Solicitors are not best placed to offer advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous searches that can be undertaken by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which will figure out the risks in St Helier. The standard information given to a purchaser’s lawyer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) includes a standard question of the vendor to find out whether the premises has suffered from flooding. If flooding has previously occurred which is not revealed by the vendor, then a buyer may commence a claim for damages as a result of such an incorrect reply. The buyer’s lawyers should also conduct an environmental report. This will disclose whether there is any known flood risk. If so, additional investigations will need to be made.

Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to my property are lost. The lawyers who did the conveyancing in St Helier 5 years ago have long since closed. Will I be able to sell the house?

These day there are copies made of almost everything, and your lawyer will know exactly where to find all the suitable documentation so you can purchase or sell your property without any difficulty. If copies are not available, your solicitor can arrange cover in the form of insurance or indemnities against possible claims on your property.

Should I use a St Helier conveyancing solicitor based in the vicinity that I am purchasing? We have a good friend who can carry out the legal formalities but they are based approximately 350kilometers away.

The primary upside of using a high street St Helier conveyancing practice is that you can attend the office to execute documents, present your ID and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local intelligence which is a benefit. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust used your friend and in the main were impressed that should trump using an unfamiliar St Helier conveyancing lawyer just because they are round the corner.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Seventy years unexpired on my flat in St Helier. I now wish to get lease extension but my freeholder is can not be found. What should I do?

If you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be granted an extra 90 years by the magistrate. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to locate the lessor. In some cases an enquiry agent would be helpful to carry out a search and to produce a report which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer both on proving the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court overseeing St Helier.

I inherited a basement flat in St Helier. Given that I can not reach agreement with the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the amount due for a lease extension?

Absolutely. We are happy to put you in touch with a St Helier conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a St Helier property is Buchanan Court 39 Vernon Road in April 2010. the Tribunal assessed that the premium payable for the freehold of the block should be £44,000. This case affected 2 flats. The unexpired term was 66.67 years.