In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Ickenham? Is this really warranted?

To satisfy the Money Laundering Regulations any Ickenham conveyancing firm will require evidence of your identity in all conveyancing matters. This is usually dealt with by provision of a passport and an original bank statement or utility bill evidencing where you reside.

Under Money Laundering Regulations, property lawyers are duty bound to ascertain not only the identity of conveyancing clients but also the origin of the money that they receive in respect of any matter. An unwillingness to disclose this will lead to your lawyer cancelling their relationship with you, as clearly this will cause a conflict between the set Regulations and a refusal to disclose.

Your property lawyers will have an obligation to make a disclosure to the appropriate authorities should they consider that any amounts received by them may contravene the Money Laundering Regulations.

I have been told that property searches are the number one cause of hinderance in Ickenham conveyancing transactions. Is that correct?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released conclusions of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the common causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are not likely to be the root cause of delay in conveyancing in Ickenham.

How does conveyancing in Ickenham differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Ickenham come to us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is finished. This is because builders in Ickenham typically buy the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Ickenham or who has acted in the same development.

I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and identified one near me in Ickenham I like with a park and railway links nearby, the downside is that it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Ickenham in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a short lease?

Should you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be an issue. Reduce the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you could request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.

I own a 1st floor flat in Ickenham, conveyancing having been completed 1995. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Similar properties in Ickenham with a long lease are worth £165,000. The ground rent is £45 invoiced every year. The lease ends on 21st October 50

You have 50 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to range between £36,100 and £41,800 plus costs.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. Do not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be other concerns that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action based on this information without first getting professional advice.