About to place an offer on a leasehold apartment in Hanworth. The estate agents advise that it is usual for flats in Hanworth to have less than 75 years remaining. I am expecting a mortgage with Virgin. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 72 years left.

Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 28/2/2025 the requirements read as follows :

My uncle advised me that in buying a property in Hanworth there may be various restrictions affecting the ability to carry out external alterations to the property. Is this right?

There are anumerous of properties in Hanworth which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to execute external variations. Part of the conveyancing in Hanworth should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

Can you point me to a directory of HSBC panel solicitors in Hanworth on the Building Society Association’s Website?

Unfortunately not yet. There is no such facility on the CML or Building Society Association websites. Very few banks make their panel listings visible on the web. If you are seeking to appoint a Hanworth conveyancer on the HSBC please make the most of our tool.

My sealed bid on a property in Hanworth has been agreed to, the sellers do nevertheless have a connected purchase. The owners have put an offer on a property, however it’s not yet agreed to, and have viewings of other properties booked. I have chosen a local conveyancing solicitor in Hanworth. What should be my next step? At what point should I apply for the mortgage with Principality?

It is understandable to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket prematurely (mortgage application is in the region of one thousand pounds, then valuation, Hanworth conveyancing search charges, etc). The first course of action is to check that your solicitor is on the Principality conveyancing panel. As to the subsequent stages this very much dictated by the specifics of your transaction, attraction to this property and on the state of the market. During a buoyant market some purchasers will apply for the mortgage with Principality and pay for the valuation and only if it comes back ok would they pay their conveyancing practitioner to move forward with the conveyancing in Hanworth.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Hanworth. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here are examples of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Hanworth

Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. Please supply evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Hanworth is the location of the property. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Hanworth are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Hanworth you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Hanworth may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.

I own a leasehold flat in Hanworth. Conveyancing was finalised in 21012. I have been told that I mustn’t allow the the remaining lease term to fall too short. Why is that a problem?

Hanworth leasehold properties are for a set period - normally ninety nine years when they started. However many appartments in Hanworth were built or converted in the 70’s80’s and so these leases now have fewer than eighty years left to run. This may seem like a long time but Banks, Building Societies and other mortgage companies on the whole need leases to have at least 75 years left to adequate security. Accordingly when you come to sell the property you will need a lease extension if you are nearing eighty years. To increase your property value you should be considering whether or not to extend your lease well in advance of selling the property. Please note that there are advantages to doing so before the lease hits 80 years as when the lease falls below eighty years the premium to be paid to extend starts to get a lot more expensive.