Property Services

Buy to Let is a great way to secure a regular income and a long-term investment. We know that you’ll be eager to generate a return from your investment, so we’ll make sure you are able to complete on your purchase as soon as possible.

Becoming a private landlord can be a complicated process. There are many new regulations that apply to private landlords which you must comply with. If you don’t meet your obligations, there can be serious consequences.

Since April 2007, all deposits taken by landlords and letting agents for Assured Shorthold Tenancies must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme.  There are certain criteria that you must fulfil as a landlord about informing your tenant about the deposit protection scheme you have chosen.

To make sure you get it right, we can guide you through the process of becoming a landlord and assist you with the practicalities, such as:

• Vetting your tenants to check that they are financially sound;
• Preparing the Tenancy Agreement;
• Arranging the Energy Performance Certificate;
• Obtaining the deposit from your new tenants.

If you’re a first-time landlord, our advice will give you the peace of mind that you’ve got everything covered.

For many people, their home is their biggest single investment. Sometimes, it can be an attractive idea to release some of the capital tied up in your home. Often this can be used to top up retirement income or to carry out home improvements.

Equity release schemes are becoming much more common and there are many schemes on the market, but it is important that you get good legal advice at an early stage to help you choose between the various options available; that you understand the risks and benefits; and to make sure you know exactly what you are committed to under these arrangements.

Often equity release schemes are marketed by insurance companies and others, but these salespeople are not looking after your interests. At Veitch Penny, we always put our clients first by providing personalised legal advice.

Remortgaging is the process of repaying your existing mortgage and replacing it with a new one from a different lender, usually to get a better rate. Everyone is looking for ways to save money, and remortgaging could be the answer. There are two main reasons for remortgaging:

• To save money

Sometimes better deals are offered to new borrowers than to existing ones.

• To raise capital

As house prices rise, it can be used as security for extra borrowing.

You should ensure that there will be no penalty charge payable to your present mortgage lender and that you are not tied to them. A combination of having to pay early repayment penalties to one lender, as well as paying fees to a new lender in order to switch, can wipe out many of the savings that you could otherwise make. You need to know exactly what the new mortgage is going to cost you and how long any discounts or fixed rates apply.

Once you have got your new offer of mortgage, the legal process is fairly straightforward. We can carry out the legal checks that your new mortgage lender will want. We will check exactly how much you need to pay to your old lender on a fixed date to pay off everything that you owe. On the chosen date, we then draw your new mortgage loan from the new lender, pay off the old loan and pay over to you any surplus. Changes are then registered with the Land Registry.

It is important to remember that if you have taken out a second loan on the property with a different lender (often arranged in conjunction with home improvements such as window replacements or new conservatories) you may need to pay off that additional borrowing as part of the deal.

If you are remortgaging, then please contact our team for a quote.

Before you go to the expense of making a planning application, you should check whether there are any legal restrictions in the development of your property.

Planning is a complex area of law and you need a specialist to help you through the regulations associated with the plans for your property. We work closely with a number of architects, planning contractors and building surveyors to provide an integrated approach.

Planning permission is usually required when extending your property or changing the use of your property. We are here to support you through the procedures of obtaining planning permission or appealing against a decision.

We are able to assist with additions or extensions to a house, flat or maisonette, dividing your home, building a separate house in your garden or self-building on your own plot. We can also help if you wish to object to a planning application or are adversely affected by your neighbour’s building work.