I purchased a freehold house in High Holborn yet invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in High Holborn and has limited impact for conveyancing in High Holborn but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 is to be extinguished.

My wife and I are planning on selling our property in High Holborn and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. A high street High Holborn conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers are using an online conveyancing practice as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in High Holborn. We have lived in High Holborn for six years we know of no issue. Should we contact our local Authority to obtain confirmation that the buyers are looking for.

It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You need to check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same sickness)

I used Action Conveyancing several years past for my conveyancing in High Holborn. I now require my file but the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?

Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in High Holborn of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I am buying my first flat in High Holborn with a mortgage from Alliance & Leicester . The builders refused to reduce the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The property agent told me not inform my solicitor about this extras as it would put at risk my loan with Alliance & Leicester . Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder 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.

I am a sole trader intending to lease a unit on the high street. Can you recommend solicitors offering fixed costs for commercial conveyancing in High Holborn for below £1,200?

We are happy to recommend firms who host a wealth of experience of commercial conveyancing in High Holborn, including the disposal and purchase of businesses as well as simply property. If you are intending to purchase or lease a shop, pub, restaurant, office, retail unit or a whole business we can put you in touch with the right solicitor. As for the charges this will depend on the structure and nuances of the proposed transaction. Let us have your details or email so as to enable us to provide you with a detailed commercial conveyancing calculation.