I am in the throes of switching my current homeowner loan to a BTL Platform Home Loans Ltd mortgage. The bank has said that I require a solicitor for this. I spoke to the same Knowle conveyancing firm who who did the conveyancing when I initially acquired the property. The fee calculation provided of £575 plus disbursements is an eye-watering amount to do this as its a refinance than a sale or purchase.
The estimate does seem a tad on the high side. If you you were to look around you may be able to reduce the fees slightly by perhaps £100 plus VAT. That being said, assuming were satisfied with the assistance the firm provided you maylive to regret choosing an an untested solicitor. Don't forget to ensure the conveyancer can act for Platform Home Loans Ltd. Do use our search tool to get a quote a Knowle conveyancing firm on the Platform Home Loans Ltd approved list of lawyers, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Knowle.
About to place a bid on a leasehold apartment in Knowle. The selling agents assure me that it is the norm for flats in Knowle to have less than 75 years remaining. I am expecting a loan with Platform. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 72 years unexpired.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are obtaining a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 30/1/2025 the requirements read as follows :
Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £195,000 and found one near me in Knowle I like with a park and station in the vicinity, however it only has 61 years on the lease. There is not much else in Knowle for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a short lease?
If you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease will be an issue. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the property for at least 2 years you may request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this.
In surfing the world wide web for the phrase cheap conveyancing in Knowle it reveals many solicitorslocally. How do I determine which is the right conveyancer for the sale of my house?
The best way of choosing a suitable conveyancer is via personal recommendation, so enquire of friends and those you trust who have acquired a property in Knowle or the respected estate agent or financial adviser. Fees for conveyancing in Knowle vary, so it's a good idea to request at least four estimates from different property lawyers. Dont forget to clarify what costs in the quote includes.
Please set a few of specific advantages to using a local lawyer in Knowle
A significant proportion of house movers in Knowle select a nearby high street lawyer so that they can visit in the event that they have questions, and to sign paperwork rather taking the chance of relying on the Royal Mail.
Some would say that there exists a marginal benefit in opting for a property lawyer local to a house you are buying, due to the knowledge of the locality and potential local issues - yet this is moot. Most conveyancers are now by way of email and may be any place in the world.