Recently contacted my conveyancing solicitor in Leytonstone who conducted the legals 18 months ago and wanted a conveyancing costs illustration based on an identical type of house move (a leasehold premises and a freehold premises) of almost identical values with a home loan from Leeds Building Society. It looks as though am now being quoted twice the amount. Stick with what I know or should I seek out an alternative property lawyer?

The costs illustration is fractionally on the expensive side. If you are willing to invest time contrasting quotes you could trim some of the cost by as much as £100 plus VAT. That being said, if you were happy with the assistance the firm offered you couldlive to regret opting for an an unknown lawyer. Don't forget to check that the firm can also act for Leeds Building Society. You can employ our search tool to find a Leytonstone conveyancing firm on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Leytonstone.

The sellers of the house we are looking to purchase have instructed a conveyancing firm in Leytonstone who has insisted on a lock out agreement with a deposit of 5k. Are such agreements sensible?

Lock out contracts are contracts binding a property seller and prospective buyer granting the buyer the sole right to the sale of the premises within an agreed time frame. Essentially, a lock out is a document specifying that you will be issued with a contract at a later time which is the contract for the actual sale. It is generally used for buyer assurance though in many situations, the owner may enjoy an upside from such agreements as well. There are various pros and cons to using them but you need to check with your lawyer but beware that it may end up costing you more in conveyancing charges. For this these agreements are avoided when it comes to conveyancing in Leytonstone.

We are planning to purchase with Earl Shilton BS. We have called around locally but am struggling to find a Leytonstone conveyancing firm on the Earl Shilton BS panel. Could you help?

Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel solicitor tool on this web page. Please choose the building society and type Leytonstone or your preferred area and you will be presented with numerous solicitors located in Leytonstone or by proximity to you.

I decided to have a survey carried out on a house in Leytonstone prior to appointing lawyers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold element to the house. Our surveyor advised that some lenders tend refuse to issue a mortgage on such a property.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different requirements from Halifax. Should you wish to call us we can check with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Leytonstone. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Leytonstone to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.

I've recently bought a leasehold flat in Leytonstone. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before my ownership?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

I have had difficulty in trying to purchase the freehold in Leytonstone. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

Where there is a absentee landlord or if there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to assess the price.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Leytonstone property is 36 New Wanstead in August 2010. The Tribunal arrived at a valuation of the premium for the freehold of £22,359. This case related to 2 flats. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 73.92 years.