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Auction house solicitor
Hello, I am looking to bid on a property at auction and am in the process of trying to source a solicitor who has the expertise to deal with the sale within the 28 days deadline. I would also like them to take a look at the paperwork prior to auction. I have looked online but wondered if anyone can recommend one as I am a…
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Selling - Sole Agency Tie In
Afternoon all! First time seller here and I wanted to gain some advice as im a first time seller to getting to grips with being in “other end” of th estate agent experience. I’ve had 4 agents come value the house last week and all were pretty consistent in their valuation, marketing approach and feel for the local market,…
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House which owns the freehold of flat underneath - issues?
Hi all, I am looking at purchasing a property and have come across one which I like, however the agents end the listing, with almost a throw away comment, that the property includes the freehold of the flat below which has a long term lease. I am relatively new to the property game, am I being extremely naïve to assume…
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Conveyancing - Has anyone used Smart Legal in London for their conveyancing
We have received a number of quotes for the conveyancing for our flat purchase. Smart Legal of London are significantly lower than anyone else. Has anyone used them and can they recommend them?
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Stairs issue with 'shortlist' house
Hi, I am hoping to move and unfortunately my budget doesn't meet my wants so there are compromises to be made. I like this house (floor plan below) which is an extended cottage. The stairs are very steep and end halfway outside the doorways on the two front bedrooms. I wondered if anyone had any bright ideas of how I could…
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Mortgage rejected due commercial use of property
” Valuer has confirmed the property does not meet our criteria due to commercial use. It is self catering accommodation with no council tax band and has non domestic rateable value.” Hi - we are purchasing a house in the Scottish Borders that is currently self catering accommodation. Our mortgage lender won’t proceed as…
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Adjacent Developer’s land
I’m not sure where this sits but any legal advice gratefully accepted . I have lived in an end terrace property for 22 years and the piece of land with bushes adjacent to the side of my house remains the property of the well known developer company. I asked to buy this when we first moved in and was told no as it was an…
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Holiday Let or normal AST?
I thought of this question due to a different thread, so have posted it as a question to get some thoughts. How much more would it cost to rent out a property as holiday let rather than traditional rental? Basing on Sunday to Thursday serviced flat (thinking of long term contractors) Owner needs to pay for: Rates, gas,…
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Stamp duty refund
Hi, can someone clarify the possibility of getting a refund on the 2% tax residency stamp duty? My wife and I returned to UK to live permanently on 15/09/25 after living in France for 8 years and plan to buy a house within 2 months or so. I understand from the HMRC website we are liable to pay an extra 2% as we haven't…
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Housing association Failing to do repairs and not responding to complaints advice needed
I appologise if I'm posting this in wrong place. I wonder if anyone can give me some advice. This is going to be long so again I appologise is advanced. I live in a 3 bedroom housing association house with my 4 children. All 4 of my child have special needs and medical conditions. Back at end Of November 2022 boiler went…
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Tenants energy bill now in my name
Hi, My tenants were due to leave on in Jan 2025 and didn't and my tenancy agreement expired then. Ovo have done a trace and search and are not asking me to pay £1k energy bill. This feels very unfair and without a tenancy agreement they are saying they won't change it but I can't get a tenancy agreement as the tenants are…
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Joint tenant or not?
My husband died with no will and a lot of debt in his sole name. Form k restrictions have been put on the title of the house in his sole name. I called land registry and they looked and told me there was no form A entry therefore we were joint tenants and by rule of survivorship I inherit the house and it doesn’t form part…
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What is a utility room?
I thought a utility room was a space for the washing machine and dryer, maybe a big sink for dirty washing (cat litter trays, small dogs etc) and cleaning products. That's what's in mine, along with tins of paint and other odds. Room for a chest freezer would be nice. I'm house hunting a want a utility room still, I like…
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Social Housing Bidding *Swindon*
Hello, Wondered if anyone can give any advice or know if I would get anywhere at all please? I'm currently on my local councils bidding list but I have been restricted to flats only due to their policy now only allows families with 2 children in flats unless their is a health or welfare need. The issues I am facing with…
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Chimneys sweep Wales - who is responsible
Hi, I could not find the answerrt online. Is it the landlords or tenant responsibility? Thanks
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Is this legal ?
House is for sale through local branch of major Estate Agents. To be considered a "preferencial buyer" and take it off the market (they did), a £1000 fee is required to be paid to a stipulated solicitor named by Agent. For this you would get all local searches etc. Still allowed to use your own solicitor. Fee is not…
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selling property
I'm thinking of down sizing , I'm on pension credit ,I have been told this could stop because if I sell property the money would be classed as savings, but it is going to go straight into buying another property and paying fees, so I will not be left with no saving by the time its all gone through. I just want to know if…
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A simple(?) selling / buying question
Answered, thank you all!
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RTM managing the building themselves
Hello, As a Director of a RTM of 23 flats and frustrated by the MA we are considering managing the building ourselves. What are the major things we need to take into consideration? We've already negotiated our own companies to provide services cheaper than MA eg our own accountant, our own broker for building's insurance…
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Mortgaging existing buy-to-let house to purchase a second property
Hello all. Long-term lurker, first-time poster here :-) TL;DR: Is it possible to take out a mortgage on a property which I own outright through a limited company, and it already let on an assured shorthold tenancy, then use the mortgage funds to purchase a second property to rent out as a holiday let (Airbnb or similar)?…
