The property market in Barnet is hotting up. What can I do to accelerate the conveyancing process?

In the event that you are under pressure to sign contracts we would recommend that your solicitor is familiar with the area as they will have local connections and intelligence. It is even conceivable that they could have handled otherproperties in the same street. Therefore consider using a Barnet conveyancing lawyer. Second, double check that the lawyer is on the on the approved list for your mortgage company. It is claimed that nearly one in five of Barnet conveyancing transactions are frustrated or derailed after finding out that a purchaser’s lawyer was not on their banks list of approved solicitors. This can often result in the buying process being frustrated by as much as three weeks. It is understood that this issue impacts in the region of one hundred thousand home sales every year. Many Barnet conveyancing firms can not represent certain banks so do check at the outset.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Barnet?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Barnet. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my commercial offices in Barnet and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act affords security of tenure to business tenants, giving them the legal entitlement to make a request to court for a renewal tenancy and continue in occupation when the lease reaches an end. There are certain specified grounds that a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complex. Fees are different for commercial conveyancing. Barnet is one of the hundreds of locations in which our lawyers have offices

We have reached the end of our tether in trying to purchase the freehold in Barnet. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

if there is a absentee landlord or if there is dispute about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the LVT to calculate the premium.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Barnet flat is Flat 2 2 Netherfield Road in April 2010. The Tribunale held that premium payable for a 90 year extension to the existing Lease should be £7,705. This case related to 1 flat. The remaining number of years on the lease was 76 years.

When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Barnet what are the most common lease defects?

There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in Barnet. All leases are drafted differently and legal mistakes in the legal wording can result in certain sections are erroneous. For example, if your lease is missing any of the following, it could be defective:

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

You may have difficulties when selling your property if you have a defective lease primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. Barclays , The Mortgage Works, and Alliance & Leicester all have very detailed requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. Where a lender has been advised by their lawyers that the lease is problematic they may refuse to grant the mortgage, forcing the buyer to pull out.

Is there a difference between surveying and conveyancing in Barnet?

Conveyancing - in Barnet or anywhere in England and Wales - is the legal term given to transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It therefore includes the investigation of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you are intending to buy and will help you discover the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you leverage for reducing the price down or asking the vendor to fix the problems prior to you complete your move.