We are soon to exchange on the purchase of a house in Blakenhall but as a result of wreckage from the recent storms I have was able negotiate compensation from the vendor of six thousand pounds in the form of a adjustment in the price. I had intended this to be addressed as part of a side agreement but Leeds Building Society are not allowing this. Why were they approached?

Your lawyer that is on a Leeds Building Society approved list is obliged to advise Leeds Building Society of any changes to the sale price. If you prohibit your lawyer to disclose the reduction to Leeds Building Society then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, Leeds Building Society and you would have to appoint a new solicitor for your conveyancing in Blakenhall.

I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Blakenhall. My lender is Platform

Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 1/4/2025, the requirements read as follows :

How does conveyancing in Blakenhall differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Blakenhall approach us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is built. This is because developers in Blakenhall usually acquire the site, 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 Blakenhall or who has acted in the same development.

I have been sourcing a conveyancing lawyer in Blakenhall for my purchase. Is it possible to review a solicitor's complaints history with the legal regulator?

Members of the public may see documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from investigations from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For callers outside the UK, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA may recorded call for training reasons.

I am a negotiator for a reputable estate agency in Blakenhall where we have experienced a few leasehold sales jeopardised due to leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have been given contradictory information from local Blakenhall conveyancing solicitors. Can you shed some light as to whether the seller of a flat can start the lease extension formalities for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

As long as the seller has owned the lease for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to commence the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the buyer need not have to wait 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment needs to be completed prior to, or at the same time as completion of the disposal of the property.

Alternatively, it may be possible to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Blakenhall - A selection of Queries before buying

It would be prudent to find out as much as you can about the managing agents as they will either make life much simpler or problematic. As the owner of a leasehold property you are often in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to every day matters like the cleanliness of the communal areas. You should not be shy to ask prospective neighbours what they think of them. On a final note, be sure you know the dates that the service fees are due to the managing agents and specifically what it includes. Does the lease contain onerous restrictions? How much is the ground rent and service charge?