I am need of leasehold conveyancing for an apartment in a fairly new development (seven years built) in Canary Wharf. 95% of the properties are already sold. Is it strictly necessary to order local searches as part of conveyancing in Canary Wharf?

A big part of the Canary Wharf conveyancing process is the conveyancing searches. There are a large number of companies who offer Canary Wharf conveyancing searches, as well direct from the local authority. These are usually referred to as personal search providers due to them carrying out, personal searches. Nevertheless, all Local Authority Search conveyancing products have one thing in common - they must obtain their data from the local authoritative source.

Should our solicitor be raising questions regarding flooding during the conveyancing in Canary Wharf.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for lawyers dealing with homes in Canary Wharf. There are those who purchase a house in Canary Wharf, completely aware that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, where a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or dispose of the property. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not qualified to offer advice on flood risk, however there are a number of checks that may be carried out by the purchaser or by their lawyers which can give them a better appreciation of the risks in Canary Wharf. The conventional set of information given to a buyer’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) incorporates a standard question of the owner to determine whether the property has suffered from flooding. If the residence has been flooded in past which is not revealed by the owner, then a purchaser may bring a compensation claim stemming from an inaccurate reply. A purchaser’s solicitors will also commission an environmental search. This will higlight whether there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries will need to be conducted.

I'm remortgaging my existing house to a BTL loan with The Royal Bank of Scotland and intend to use the remaining equity towards a second property. The area we are looking at is Canary Wharf. Will your lawyers be able to act for both sets of mortgage companies and tie in the two deals?

Do use our search tool on this site to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panels. Assuming that they are your solicitor should be able to simultaneously deal with the two deals but you should have a chat with you solicitor and specify your desired outcome and needs.

If all goes to plan we aim to complete our sale of a £300,000 garden flat in Canary Wharf next Thursday. The landlords agents has quoted £372 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and previous years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a flat conveyance in Canary Wharf?

Canary Wharf conveyancing on leasehold apartments normally involves the buyer’s solicitor submitting enquiries for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to address these enquiries the majority will be willing to do so. They are entitled to charge a reasonable administration fee for answering enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average costs for the paperwork that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some situations it is in excess of £800. The management information fee invoiced by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration fees, without which the invoice is technically not due. Reality however dictates that you have little choice but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to exchange contracts with the buyer.

I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord for a lease extension without getting anywhere. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on such matters? Can you recommend a Canary Wharf conveyancing firm to act on my behalf?

in cases where there is a absentee freeholder or where there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to calculate the price.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Canary Wharf residence is 12, 14 & 16 Hull Close in May 2010. the Tribunal determined that the premium payable for the acquisition of the freehold to the subject premises was the sum of £18,300 This case related to 3 flats. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 101.61 years.

What is the average legal costs for conveyancing in Canary Wharf?

The average fee last year for conveyancing in Canary Wharf was just over one thousand four hundred and fifty pounds not including SDLT and Land Registry fees.