Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Twickenham is more expensive?

Twickenham leasehold conveyancing transactions usually involve additional investigations than freeholds including investigating the Lease, liaising with the Landlord such as serving relevant notices on the Landlord or managing agent, obtaining up-to-date service charge and management information, obtaining Landlord’s consents and reviewing management accounts and formation documents.

How does conveyancing in Twickenham differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build residence in Twickenham approach us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is ready to move into. This is because new home sellers in Twickenham usually buy the land, 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Twickenham or who has acted in the same development.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Twickenham is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Twickenham are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Twickenham you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Twickenham 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 property.

I was advised by numerous property agents in Twickenham to choose a conveyancer on your site. Is there a financial incentive for Estate Agents to offer your site over a competitor’s?

We don’t give any financial incentive for pointing buyers and sellers our way. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as a client could think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not getting any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

Due to exchange soon on a leasehold property in Twickenham. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they report fully within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Twickenham should include some of the following:

Ground rent - how much and what the invoice dates are, and also know whether this will change in the future Does the lease prohibit wood flooring? You must be advised what is to be regarded as a Nuisance in the lease Will you be prohibited or prevented from having pets in the property?

Following months of correspondence we cannot agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Twickenham. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

Where there is a absentee freeholder or where there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the LVT to calculate the premium.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Twickenham residence is Ground Floor Flat 91 Bath Road in May 2009. in a case where the freeholder could not be traced, the Brentford County Court ordered that the Lease be surrendered in return for the grant of a new lease of the Premises at a premium determined by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal. The tribunal concluded that the price payable by the Applicant for the new lease of the premises be £15,900 This case affected 1 flat. The remaining number of years on the lease was 60.45 years.