Conveyancing in Brighton, Solicitors with local expertise:

The City of Brighton is a very cosmopolitan and vibrant place with a varied landscape. The types of properties to be found in Brighton are vast and range from Regency style properties with period features to large mansion style flats in Victorian buildings

Fridaysmove have extensive experience of Conveyancing in Brighton.   We are used to dealing with all types of Brighton conveyancing transactions and would happy to assist you when buying or selling a property in Brighton.

To ensure your Conveyancing in Brighton proceeds smoothly and without hitch your assigned Solicitor will have established contacts throughout East Sussex including close working associations and experience with the Brighton Local Authorities (Brighton & Hove City Council, Kings House, Grand Avenue, BN3 2LS, Tel: 01273 290000), Estate Agents and other Conveyancing Solicitors in Brighton.

If you are buying or selling a home in Brighton, you may find following information, contributed by a Solicitor with vast experience of Conveyancing in Brighton,  useful:

Conservation Areas and their impact on Conveyancing in Brighton

According to the Brighton and Hove Council website there are 34 conservation areas, for example, Montpelier and Clifton Hill. Each of them has a character statement and details can be seen on the website. These are areas of special historic or architectural significance that the local authority considers should be preserved.

If you are buying a property in a conservation area with a view to making alterations to the exterior of the property, including the removal of railings or a fence, you will need to obtain consent from the department of the local authority who deal with properties in conservation areas.

Brighton Conservation areas include:  Brighton and Hove Council has designated a number of conservation areas, including Benfield Barn, Brunswick Town, Carlton Hill, Ovingdean, Patcham, Pembroke & Princes, Rottingdean, Sackville Gardens, Cliftonville, Denmark Villas, Hangleton, Kemp Town, Montpelier & Clifton Hill, Stanmer and Tongdean.

There are beautiful Regency style properties near the sea front. If purchasing one of these properties with a view to making alterations, enquiries should be made with the local authority to see whether there are restrictions on carrying out alterations.

Listed Buildings in Brighton

There are a large number of listed buildings in Brighton, for example, in Bedford Square and Clifton Terrace. A list of listed buildings can be seen on the Brighton and Hove Council website. If buying a property that has been designated a listed building, listed buildings consent is required for alterations to the property.

It is a criminal offence to alter or demolish a listed building without having obtained the relevant consent from the local authority’s planning department. Listed buildings are graded differently and the alterations permitted to be carried out on a listed building will differ depending on the grading of the building.

If work is started without obtaining the relevant consent from the local authority then the local authority may issue a notice requiring the property to be restored to its former state. Checks should always be carried out before any works are undertaken.

Right to Buy conveyancing in Brighton

There are a number of ‘right to buy’ properties in Brighton owned by the local authority. Subject to certain conditions a tenant of a council property normally has a right to buy the property. The property is sold based on the open market value less any discount the tenant is entitled to.

If the property is sold within 5 years of buying it, in most cases, a proportion of the discount has to be paid back to the landlord. Also, the transfer must include a provision stating that if the property is sold within 10 years the landlord gets first refusal. Your Brighton Conveyancer should be aware of the procedures involved in a ‘right to buy’ purchase since they are slightly different to the purchase of a regular leasehold property.

Brighton Conveyancing Searches

There are many open spaces in Brighton and the surrounding area. If buying a property with open land around it checks should be made for ‘rights of way’ over the open land if a footpath needs to be accessed for example. The Deeds should be checked for rights of way the landowner has over adjoining land.

A Commons Registration search should be carried out where the property borders on common land or a village green. If it transpires that any such land has been registered under the Commons Registration Act 1965, no development is permitted over that land. This is something a buyer should be aware of when buying such property.

Shared ownership Conveyancing in Brighton

There are also shared ownership properties in Brighton. Shared ownership enables those who would not otherwise be able to afford to buy a property themselves, purchase a share in a property.

The other share is normally owned by the housing association. The larger the share you own, the less rent you will have to pay. Your Brighton Conveyancing Solicitor will explain the terms of the shared ownership lease to you and the nature of your interest in the property.

Stamp duty exemption in Disadvantaged areas of Brighton:

House purchases may be exempt from stamp duty in the council wards of Marine, Moulsecoomb and Queen's Park.

Regeneration projects in Brighton:

The council has identified the locality of London Road Central, Lewes Road and Preston Park West as a priority regeneration area.

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