We are about to exchange contracts for a leasehold flat in Chapeltown. We encountered a stumbling block. Our mortgage offer with Clydesdale runs out on 16/2/2026 but the sellers are putting forward a completion date of 18/2/2026. Can one prolong the loan offer?

The person best placed to address this concern is your lawyer who should determine whether they better off negotiating with the mortgage broker, owner’s solicitors, property agents or indeed all parties given the history of your conveyancing to date.

Our mortgage company has recommended a law firm on their panel based in Chapeltown but I would rather instruct a conveyancing lawyer in Chapeltown or nearer to where I live. Are you able to assist?

It is by no means the case that all Chapeltown conveyancing solicitors are approved and listed on all lender’s conveyancing panel. Use the above search tool to identify a Chapeltown conveyancing firm on the on the lender panel.

I opted to have a survey done on a property in Chapeltown in advance of instructing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the property. Our surveyor has said that some lenders will refuse to issue a mortgage on a flying freehold premises.

It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different instructions for example to Birmingham Midshires. If you contact us we can check with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Chapeltown. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Chapeltown especially if they are familiar with such properties in Chapeltown.

As co-executor for the estate of my grandfather I am disposing of a house in Neath but I am based in Chapeltown. My solicitor (based 260 miles from merequires that I execute a statutory declaration before the transaction finalising. Could you suggest a conveyancing practitioner in Chapeltown who can witness this legal document for me?

strictly speaking you are not likely to need to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily or notary public or qualified solicitor will suffice regardless of whether they are Chapeltown based

Are there common problems that you encounter in leases for Chapeltown properties?

Leasehold conveyancing in Chapeltown is not unique. All leases are unique and legal mistakes in the legal wording can result in certain clauses are erroneous. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

Repairing obligations to or maintain parts of the building Clauses dealing with recovering service charges for expenditure on the building or common parts.

You could encounter 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. Santander, The Royal Bank of Scotland, and Bank of Ireland all have very detailed conveyancing instructions when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease does not cover certain provisions they may refuse to grant the mortgage, forcing the purchaser to withdraw.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Chapeltown - A selection of Questions you should consider before buying

You should be aware if it is fewer than eighty years it will have adverse implications on the value of the property. Check with your bank that they are willing to to proceed given the lease term. Leases with fewer than 80 years remaining means that you will almost definitely need a lease extension sooner rather than later and you need to have some idea of what this would cost. Remember, in most cases you would be be obliged to have been the owner of the premises for 24 months before you are entitled to carry out a lease extension. What is the service charge and ground rent on the property? The majority of Chapeltown leasehold flats will have a service charge for maintenance of the block levied by the freeholder. Should you acquire the apartment you will have to pay this charge, usually in instalments accross the year. This can be anything from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built blocks. There will also be a rentcharge to be met yearly, normally this is not a exorbitant sum, say around £50-£100 but you should to enquire as occasionally it could be surprisingly expensive.