Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Borehamwood is more expensive?

Borehamwood leasehold conveyancing transactions usually involve additional investigations than freeholds including investigating the Lease, liaising with the Landlord such as serving applicable notices on the Landlord or managing agent, obtaining up-to-date service charge and management information, obtaining Landlord’s consents and reviewing management accounts and formation documents.

I am assisting my niece sell her flat in Borehamwood. Will the conveyancing solicitor commission the energy assessment or it is for the owner to coordinate?

After the demise of Home Information Packs, energy assessments became a mandatory component of selling a house. An energy assessment needs to be commissioned prior to the property being advertised. It is not a task that lawyers ordinarily organise. If you are instructing a Borehamwood conveyancing practitioner they might be willing to arrange energy performance certificates given their relationships with long established Borehamwood providers

Is it the case that all Borehamwood CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the HSBC conveyancing list of approved firms?

A selection of lenders now make use of the accreditation scheme as the kick off point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the CML have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to remain on their approved list of firms.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Borehamwood. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Clydesdale be concerned?

Given that your lender is Clydesdale your lawyer must comply with the formal requirements contained in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Clydesdale. The CML Handbook includes minimum provisions for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Clydesdale where a lease fails to meet these conditions. The conditions relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not limited to Borehamwood.

My wife and I are selling our home in Borehamwood and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. A local lawyer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers instructed a nationwide conveyancing practice rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Borehamwood. Having lived in Borehamwood for 5 years we know that this is a non issue. Do we contact our local Authority to seek clarification that the buyers are looking for.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor already. What do they say? You need to enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out life insurance to cover that same sickness)

I am four weeks into a residential purchase having been directed to solicitors by the local agent to execute conveyancing in Borehamwood. We are not happy. Can you help me find new lawyers?

They would have to be very bad in order to consider replacing them. Has your loan offer been issued? In the event that it has you will need to inform them of the new contact details and ensure the mortgage documents are issued to the new lawyers. Your solicitor ideally needs to be on the banks approved list to avoid added fees and complications. So that should be your first question of the new solicitors. The search tool can help you find a lender approved lawyer for your conveyancing in Borehamwood

What are your top tips when it comes to appointing a Borehamwood conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Borehamwood conveyancing firm) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggest that you speak with several firms including non Borehamwood conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions might be of use:

What are the charges for lease extension conveyancing? Can they put you in touch with clients in Borehamwood who can give a testimonial?

I have had difficulty in trying to purchase the freehold in Borehamwood. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

in cases where there is a absentee freeholder or if there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to determine the premium.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Borehamwood residence is Ground Floor Maisonette 17 Milton Road in January 2014. The Tribunal determined the premium payable by the Applicant to the should be £13,299 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The remaining number of years on the lease was 71.73 years.