We are about to sign contracts for a property in Bowes Park. We encountered a stumbling block. The mortgage offer with Leeds Building Society runs out on 16/1/2025 but the sellers are insisting on a completion date of 20/1/2025. Is it possible to extend the mortgage expiry date?

The person best placed to address this question is your lawyer who will hopefully assess if they corresponding with the mortgage company, vendor’s solicitors, estate agents or possibly all three taking into account what has happend in your transaction to date.

A colleague informed me that in buying a property in Bowes Park there could be a number of restrictions prohibiting external changes to a property. Is this right?

We are aware of anumerous of properties in Bowes Park which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to external alterations. Part of the conveyancing in Bowes Park should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

Is it the case that all Bowes Park CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the Co-operative conveyancing panel?

Some major banks and building societies now use the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitors wishing to remain on their panels.

I've digested plenty of house buying guides, I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Bowes Park solicitor - who is on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?

Coventry BS will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Coventry BS will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your solicitor will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Bowes Park postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Coventry BS, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Bowes Park.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified during conveyancing in Bowes Park?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Bowes Park. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in Bowes Park. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Set out below is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Bowes Park

The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Please supply evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. Please supply a car parking plan.

I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing solicitor in Bowes Park for my house move. Is it possible to review a solicitor's complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

One may search for published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions resulting from investigations commenced on or after Jan 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For records about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's record, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For callers outside the UK, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator may recorded telephone calls for training reasons.