I have given 2 months notice to my existing landlord and have to leave my rented flat in Bitterne by the end of next month. Conveyancing on my purchase is underway. How realistic is it to complete in 5 weeks as I wish to avoid having to find temporary accommodation?

Generally one should not give notice for your lease until exchange of contracts has taken place. If you have not previously done so, speak to your conveyancer and request that they cajole the owners solicitors, try to an acceptable time-line that all parties will work towards

Do I need to have a meeting at the offices of the solicitor to sign the legal charge? If so, I will instruct a firm who offer conveyancing in Bitterne so that I can attend their offices when needed.

Nowadays conveyancing panel lawyers for banks conduct all of the communications via Royal Mail, e-mail or over the phone. This means that they can undertake the legal work for your home move regardless of where you live in England or Wales. However you should check if you have the option of visiting the offices of your conveyancing lawyer if just in case this is required.

I am looking for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and found one close by in Bitterne I like with a park and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 51 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Bitterne suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be problematic. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you may ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor about this.

My husband and I are 3 weeks into a freehold purchase having been directed to conveyancers by the estate agent to handle our conveyancing in Bitterne. I am not happy. Could you you assist me in finding new conveyancers?

A lawyer would need to be very poor in order to consider replacing them. Has the loan offer been sent? In the event that it has you must advise them of the replacement solicitor and get the mortgage documents are issued to the new lawyers. Your new conveyancer needs to be on the mortgage company panel to avoid supplemental fees and frustration. That should be your starting point. The find a solicitor tool will assist you in finding a bank approved lawyer for your home move in Bitterne

Are there frequently found problems that you witness in leases for Bitterne properties?

Leasehold conveyancing in Bitterne is not unique. All leases are unique and drafting errors can sometimes mean that certain provisions are missing. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

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

You will encounter a problem when selling your property if you have a defective lease primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. Birmingham Midshires, Barnsley Building Society, and Britannia all have express requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. Where a lender has been advised by their lawyers that the lease does not cover certain provisions they may refuse to provide security, forcing the buyer to pull out.

I invested in buying a basement flat in Bitterne, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Corresponding properties in Bitterne with over 90 years remaining are worth £195,000. The ground rent is £45 levied per year. The lease ceases on 21st October 2088

With 63 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £16,200 and £18,600 as well as legals.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more detailed investigations. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional issues that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.