Should our lawyer be asking questions regarding flooding during the conveyancing in South Harrow.

Flooding is a growing risk for solicitors specialising in conveyancing in South Harrow. Some people will acquire a house in South Harrow, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical destruction, where a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or sell the premises. Steps can be carried out during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the buyer.

Lawyers are not qualified to offer advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous checks that may be undertaken by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which can give them a better appreciation of the risks in South Harrow. The conventional set of completed inquiry forms sent to a buyer’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) contains a usual inquiry of the vendor to discover whether the premises has suffered from flooding. In the event that the premises has been flooded in past and is not disclosed by the seller, then a purchaser could issue a legal claim for losses stemming from an misleading reply. The buyer’s lawyers may also order an environmental search. This should reveal if there is any known flood risk. If so, further inquiries will need to be conducted.

I used Stirling Law a few years ago for my conveyancing in South Harrow. I now require my file but the law firm has closed. What do I do?

You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down 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 South Harrow of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, 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 South Harrow differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in South Harrow come to us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is completed. This is because house builders in South Harrow tend to 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 property lawyers 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 South Harrow or who has acted in the same development.

I need to find a conveyancing solicitor for remortgage conveyancing in South Harrow. I happened to stumble across a web site which looks to be the perfect offering If it is possible to get all the legals done via email that would be preferable. Should I be concerned? What should out be looking out for?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

Notwithstanding our best efforts, we have been unsuccessful in trying to purchase the freehold in South Harrow. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a South Harrow conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a South Harrow residence is GFF 1 Holyrood Avenue in May 2014. The Tenant wished to acquire a new (extended) lease and applied to the Willesden County Court who granted a vesting order on 20* March2013. The Tribunal decied that the premium to be paid was £9,062 This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 79 years.

In relation to leasehold conveyancing in South Harrow what are the most common lease problems?

There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in South Harrow. Most leases are unique and drafting errors can sometimes mean that certain clauses are missing. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

Maintenance charge proportions which don’t add up to the correct percentage

A defective lease can cause problems when trying to sell a property as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. HSBC Bank, Chelsea Building Society, and TSB all have very detailed conveyancing instructions when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease is problematic they may refuse to provide security, obliging the purchaser to withdraw.