I am about to put an offer on a leasehold flat in Hessle. The estate agents say that it is standard for flats in Hessle to have less than 75 years remaining. I am getting a mortgage with Bank of Ireland. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 70 years to go.

Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 9/7/2025 the requirements read as follows :

The deeds to our home can not be found. The lawyers who conducted the conveyancing in Hessle 5 years ago no longer exist. Will I be able to sell the house?

In today’s world there are copies made of almost everything, and your conveyancer should know precisely where to locate all the suitable paperwork so you can purchase or dispose of your house without a hitch. If duplicates can’t be located, your lawyer can arrange cover in the form of insurance or indemnities protecting you against possible claims on your property.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Hessle is where the house is located. Is there any advice you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Hessle are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Hessle you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Hessle may ascertain 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.

How can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 impact my business offices in Hessle and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act provides security of tenure to commercial leaseholders, granting the right to apply to court for a renewal lease and remain in occupation at the end of an expired lease. There are limited grounds where a landlord can refrain from granting a lease renewal and the rules are involved. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing practices who use the act for protection and handle your commercial conveyancing in Hessle

Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Hessle with the aim of expediting the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Hessle can be avoided if you appoint lawyers as soon as your agents start advertising the property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information needed by the buyers’ conveyancers.
If you have had conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are settled before the property is marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be nervous about purchasing a flat where a dispute is unsettled. 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 prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the buyers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as over as opposed to unresolved. You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but you should double-check via your solicitors. A purchaser's conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to to exchange contracts if the remaining number of years is under 80 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an as soon as possible that you consider whether the lease term requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale. If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should make sure that you hold the original share document. Obtaining a replacement share certificate can be a lengthy formality and slows down many a Hessle home move. If a duplicate share is required, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (if applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity.

I own a studio flat in Hessle, conveyancing was carried out in 2000. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Similar properties in Hessle with over 90 years remaining are worth £171,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 per annum. The lease expires on 21st October 2104

With 79 years left to run the likely cost is going to range between £8,600 and £9,800 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 supply a more accurate figure without more detailed investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.