Our lawyer has discovered a defect with the lease for the property we are buying in North Acton. The seller’s lawyers have suggested defective title insurance as a workaround. We are happy with insurance and will pay for it. Our conveyancer says that he must ensure that the bank is happy with this solution. Who is the client here, us or the bank?

Regardless of the fact that you have a mortgage offer from the mortgage company does not mean to say that the property will meet their specifications for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. You and the lender are the client. These conveyancing instructions must be adhered to.

I am purchasing a house and the lawyer has referenced Chancel Repair for which the property could be liable given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. He has mentioned insurance. Is this strictly warranted for conveyancing in North Acton

Unless a prior purchase of the property completed post 12 October 2013 you could expect conveyancing practitioners conducting conveyancing in North Acton to remain recommending a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in North Acton. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Here is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in North Acton

Please supply a car parking plan. The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. 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. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme.

I have been on the look out for a flat up to £235,500 and identified one close by in North Acton I like with open areas and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 51 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in North Acton for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?

Should you require a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

As co-executor for the estate of my aunt I am disposing of a house in Swansea but reside in North Acton. My conveyancer (based 200 miles awayhas requested that I execute a stat dec before completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing lawyer in North Acton to witness this legal document for me?

Technically speaking you are not likely to be required to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily or notary public or qualified solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are North Acton based