Our son is in the process of securing a newly built flat in Greenford with a home loan from Virgin Money. His lawyer has advised him of a delay in receiving the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. What is this document - I have never come across this before?

The document is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when requested. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Virgin Money conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build flat in Greenford. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Greenford

Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry.

How does the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my business offices in Greenford and how can you help?

The particular law that you refer to affords a safeguard to commercial tenants, granting the dueness to apply to court for a continuation of occupancy when the lease reaches an end. There are certain specified grounds that a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complex. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing solicitors who use the act to your advantage and assist with commercial conveyancing in Greenford

Do you have any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Greenford with the aim of saving time on the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Greenford can be reduced if you appoint lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the buyers’ representatives.
If you have had conflict with your landlord or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved prior to the flat being marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where there is an ongoing dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and discharge any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as over as opposed to ongoing. A minority of Greenford leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers. If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should make sure that you have the original share document. Organising a duplicate share certificate can be a lengthy formality and slows down many a Greenford home move. If a reissued share is required, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (where applicable) for this sooner rather than later. In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Greenford state that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring necessitate a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. If you fail to have the approvals in place do not contact the landlord without contacting your conveyancer before hand.

I inherited a two-bedroom flat in Greenford. In the absence of agreement between myself and the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the sum payable for a lease extension?

Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a Greenford conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a lease Extension decision for a Greenford flat is 25 Beechwood Avenue in November 2012. the Tribunal accordingly determined that the premium for the lease extension should be £24,353. This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 58.19 years.

When it comes to my conveyancing in Greenford should I be paying VAT on the following: (1) Land reg fee on purchase (2) Pre - completion search fee (3) SDLT E submission on purchase (4) Bank TT fee

(1) Land reg fee on purchase - No (2) Pre - completion search fees -No, (such conveyancing searches are HMLR ones and means £4 and possibly £2 bankruptcy per name on your mortgage) (3) SDLT E submission on your purchase - There is no VAT on Stamp Duty. However if the firm is charging a stamp duty e-submission fee as part of their services - some Greenford conveyancers do - that will incur VAT(4) Bank transfer fee - Yes it is for the property lawyer's time in submitting the funds this way.