I am looking to buy a flat and require a conveyancing solicitor in Foots Cray who is on the Halifax solicitor. Can you recommend a local solicitor?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Halifax in certain locations such as Foots Cray. We dont recommend any particular firm.

I am buying my first flat in Foots Cray benefiting from help to buy. The developers refused to budge the price so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The property agent told me not to tell my conveyancer about the deal as it could impact my mortgage with The Royal Bank of Scotland. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

Am I right to be suspicious that estate agents that I am dealing with are suggesting an online conveyancing firm as opposed to a local Foots Cray conveyancing company?

As with many service providers, often referrals from connections can be extremely useful or valuable. Yet there are many players in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and banks may put forward lawyers to use. Sometimes these lawyers might be known to one of the organisations as being good in their field, but sometimes there may be a financial incentive behind the recommendation. You have the discretion to appoint your own conveyancer. However, bear in mind that most banks operate an approved list of conveyancers you must use for the mortgage aspect of your house move.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Foots Cray. Conveyancing and HSBC Bank mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1996. The conveyancing solicitor in Foots Cray who previously acted has long since retired. What should I do?

First contact the Land Registry to make sure that this person is in fact the new freeholder. It is not necessary to instruct a Foots Cray conveyancing firm to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for £3. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord to extend my lease without any joy. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on such matters? Can you recommend a Foots Cray conveyancing firm to act on my behalf?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Foots Cray conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Foots Cray residence is 103a Footscray Road in January 2014. The tribunal determines that the premium payable for the extended lease should be £34,500 according to the expert witness valuation calculation This case affected 1 flat.

I bought a house in Foots Cray last 15/1/2025 and to date it is still not registered with the Land Registry. It is part of a development site and my property lawyer told me that it can take twelve months to register. I have spoken with HMLR directly and they say that the initial application was cancelled due to questions not being addressed in time. Should I be concerned?

Contact your solicitor - Where you are unsatisfied with the responses, enquire as to their internal complaints protocol and escalate your concerns to a Complaints Manager. Registrations for Foots Cray conveyancing are not known to be significantly delayed.