I have just over seventy years left on my lease and require a lease extension for my apartment in Lyme Regis. Conveyancing solicitors on the Bank of Ireland panel can deal with such extensions right?

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. Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 20/1/2025 the requirements read as follows :

I am intent on selling our house in Lyme Regis and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. Any local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers used a national conveyancing firm rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Lyme Regis. Having lived in Lyme Regis for 5 years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to get in touch with our local Authority to obtain confirmation need.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing solicitor currently acting for you. What do they say? You should enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same ailment)

I used Action Conveyancing several years past for my conveyancing in Lyme Regis. I now require my file but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing 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 Lyme Regis of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

How does conveyancing in Lyme Regis differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Lyme Regis contact us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is completed. This is because builders in Lyme Regis usually acquire the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Lyme Regis or who has acted in the same development.

Back In 2001, I bought a leasehold house in Lyme Regis. Conveyancing and Leeds Building Society mortgage went though with no issue. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing solicitor in Lyme Regis who previously acted has long since retired. What should I do?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that this person is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. You do not need to instruct a Lyme Regis conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for a few pound. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Lyme Regis - A selection of Queries Prior to Purchasing

Is there a share of the freehold? Does the lease have onerous restrictions? The best form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this arrangement the lessees enjoy being in charge if their destiny and although a managing agent is often employed where the building is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants.