I am purchasing a right to buy a flat in Denmark Hill. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Denmark Hill you will have to appoint a solicitor on your lender's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Denmark Hill.

I used Arc property Solicitors a few years ago for my conveyancing in Denmark Hill. Now, I need the documents however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Denmark Hill of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £305k and found one close by in Denmark Hill I like with amenity areas and transport links nearby, however it only has 51 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Denmark Hill in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a home loan that many years will be problematic. Reduce the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you could ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.

What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Denmark Hill conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Denmark Hill conveyancing firm) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you talk with several firms including non Denmark Hill conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions might be of use:

How many lease extensions has the firm carried out in Denmark Hill in the last 12 months?

My wife and I have hit a brick wall in trying to purchase the freehold in Denmark Hill. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?

in cases where there is a missing freeholder or if there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to decide the amount due.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Denmark Hill property is 66 Southwell Road in March 2012. By Order of Deputy District Judge Stone dated 25 January 2012 a vesting order was made. The determination of the purchase price was referred to the Tribunal who decided that the amount payable for the freehold should be£29,612.00 This case related to 3 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 72.58 years.

What is the distinction between surveying and conveyancing in Denmark Hill?

Conveyancing - in Denmark Hill or anywhere in England and Wales - is the legal term given to transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It therefore includes the checking of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you’re intending to buy and will help you find out about the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you leverage for reducing the price down or asking the seller to remedy the problems before you complete your move.