Various internet forums that I have frequented warn that are the main cause of obstruction in Seven Kings house deals. Is there any truth in this?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published determinations of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature amongst the most frequent causes of delays in the conveyancing process. Searches are unlikely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Seven Kings.

3 months have elapsed since my purchase conveyancing in Seven Kings completed. I have checked the Land Registry site which shows that I paid £200,000 when infact I paid £215,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the residence from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Seven Kings before retaining lawyers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the property. My surveyor advised that some lenders may not grant a loan on such a premises.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different instructions for example to Nationwide. Should you wish to telephone us we can check via the appropriate bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Seven Kings. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Seven Kings especially if they are accustomed to such properties in Seven Kings.

Last October I purchased a leasehold property in Seven Kings. Am I liable to pay service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

I am the proprietor of a second floor flat in Seven Kings. In the absence of agreement between myself and the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the amount payable for a lease extension?

if there is a missing landlord or if there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant legislation it is possible to make an application to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to determine the price payable.

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Seven Kings property is 49 Aldborough Road South in July 2012. The Tribunal decided that the premium payable for the grant of the new lease was £13,925 This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 61.36 years.

I am in the process of purchasing my first home in Seven Kings. Conveyancing lawyer already selected. The broker advised that a survey is not needed as the property is just fifteen years old.

You would be best advised to take a Home Buyer's Report. As the property was built over a decade ago the property will be without a warranty, so you would be well advised not to take a risk. For a property that age with no signs of defects a Home Buyer's report may be enough. The report should highlight any apparent issues and suggest further investigation where appropriate. If there are any signs of material issues get a comprehensive Building Survey from the beginning.