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

Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 15/11/2025, the requirements read as follows :

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on a fortnight ago in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Burbage is where the house is located. Is there any guidance you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Burbage are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Burbage you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Burbage may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.

Should I be wary that estate agents that I am dealing with are encouraging me to use a national conveyancing firm rather than a High Street Burbage conveyancing practice?

As is the case with many service providers, often referrals from relatives can be extremely useful or valuable. But there are lots of people with a vested interest in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and lenders may put forward solicitors to choose. Sometimes the lawyers might be known to one of the organisations as experts in their field, but occasionally there may be a commercial relationship behind the recommendation. You have the right to choose your own lawyer. However, bear in mind that some banks operate an approved list of law firms you must use for the mortgage related work in your house move.

I am using a search engine for the term cheap conveyancing in Burbage it shows results of numerous solicitorsin the vicinity. With so much choice what is the best way to find the suitable conveyancer for the sale of my house?

The ideal method of choosing the right conveyancer is via personal testimonial, so seek the opinion of colleagues and relatives who have purchased a property in Burbage or a local estate agent or financial adviser. Charges for conveyancing in Burbage differ, so it's advisable to obtain a minimum of three quotes from different solicitors. Dont forget to clarify that the fees are fixed.

I am looking at a couple of flats in Burbage which have about fifty years remaining on the lease term. Do I need to be concerned?

There is no doubt about it. A leasehold flat in Burbage is a deteriorating asset as a result of the reducing lease term. The nearer the lease gets to zero years unexpired, the more it reduces the value of the property. For most buyers and mortgage companies, leases with under 75 years become less and less marketable. On a more upbeat note, leaseholders can extend their leases by serving a Section 42 Notice. One stipulation is that they must have owned the property for two years (unlike a Section 13 notice for purchasing the freehold, when leaseholders can participate from day one of ownership). When successful, they will have the right to an extension of 90 years to the current term and ground rent is effectively reduced to zero. Before moving forward with a purchase of a property with a short lease term remaining you should talk to a solicitor specialising in lease extensions and leasehold enfranchisement. We are are happy to put you in touch with Burbage conveyancing experts who will explain the options available to you during an initial telephone conversation free of charge. More often than not it is possible to negotiate informally with the freeholder to extend the lease. You may find he or she is happy to negotiate informally and willing to consider your offer straight off, without having to involve anyone else. This will save you time and money and it could help you reach a lower price on the lease. You need to ensure that any new terms represent good long-term value compared with the standard benefits of the Section 42 Notice and that onerous clauses are not inserted into any redrafting of the lease.

I invested in buying a 1 bedroom flat in Burbage, conveyancing having been completed 10 years ago. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Equivalent flats in Burbage with a long lease are worth £195,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 charged once a year. The lease ceases on 21st October 2088

With 63 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £16,200 and £18,600 plus professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs in the absence of detailed due diligence. You should not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.