We were just about to sign contracts for a leasehold flat in Aldersbrook. We have hit a problem. The mortgage offer with Barclays Direct runs out on 12/2/2025 but the vendors are putting forward a completion date of 14/2/2025. Is it possible to prolong the mortgage expiry date?

The person best placed to deal with your question is your solicitors who is in a position to determine if they corresponding with the lender, vendor’s solicitors, property agents or possibly all parties given the circumstances your conveyancing as of today.

Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to visit the offices of the solicitor to sign the mortgage deed? If so, I will choose one who does conveyancing in Aldersbrook so that I can pop in to their offices if necessary.

Whereas this was necessary ten years ago, almost all mortgage companies no longer need their conveyancing panel lawyer to witness the mortgagors signature. You will still be obliged to supply identification documents and there are still distinct benefits to choosing a locally based solicitor, in your situation a conveyancing solicitor in Aldersbrook.

Will my conveyancer be making enquiries about flooding during the conveyancing in Aldersbrook.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for conveyancers specialising in conveyancing in Aldersbrook. Some people will acquire a property in Aldersbrook, fully aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, where a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, suitable insurance cover, or sell the premises. There are steps that can be taken during the course of a property purchase to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous searches that may be carried out by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better appreciation of the risks in Aldersbrook. The conventional set of information given to a buyer’s lawyer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a standard inquiry of the seller to find out whether the premises has suffered from flooding. If the property has been flooded in past and is not notified by the vendor, then a purchaser may commence a compensation claim resulting from an incorrect answer. A purchaser’s conveyancers should also carry out an environmental search. This will disclose if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, more detailed investigations will need to be carried out.

I'm buying a new build house in Aldersbrook with a mortgage from TSB. The developers refused to reduce the price so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The estate agent advised me not reveal to my lawyer about this extras as it would put at risk my mortgage with the bank. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I am employed by a long established estate agency in Aldersbrook where we see a few leasehold sales derailed due to leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have received inconsistent advice from local Aldersbrook conveyancing firms. Could you clarify whether the owner of a flat can start the lease extension formalities for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to kick-start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the proposed purchaser can avoid having to sit tight for 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done before, or at the same time as completion of the disposal of the property.

An alternative approach is to extend the lease informally by agreement with the landlord either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the purchaser.

I am the registered owner of a two-bedroom flat in Aldersbrook. In the absence of agreement between myself and the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the premium due for a lease extension?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Aldersbrook conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Aldersbrook residence is 9 Granville Road in June 2014. The tribunal determines the enfranchisement price payable by the applicants for the freehold was £32,548 This case related to 5 flats. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 73.8 years.