Our solicitor has discovered a a problem with the lease for the flat we are purchasing in Malden. The other side have suggested defective title insurance as a workaround. We are content with insurance and will pay for it. Our conveyancing practitioner has advised that he must ensure that the bank is willing to move forward with this solution. Are we the client or is the lender?

Even though you have a mortgage offer from the bank does not mean to say that the property will meet their provisions for the purposes of a mortgage. Your lawyer has to ensure that the lease has to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. You and the mortgage company are the client. These conveyancing instructions have to be complied with.

Can your site be used to locate a Conveyancing solicitor in Malden even where I’m not buying or disposing of a house, for instance if I want to acquire a shop in Malden with a mortgage from Nationwide Building Society?

The service is predominantly used to locate domestic conveyancing solicitors in Malden but we have set out towards the end of this page some Malden commercial conveyancing firms. You will need to enquire with the firm directly to see if they are also authorised to represent Nationwide Building Society

My partner and I are downsizing from our property in Malden and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. A high street Malden conveyancer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers are using an online conveyancing practice rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Malden. We have lived in Malden for 5 years we know that this is a non issue. Do we contact our local Authority to seek confirmation need.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing solicitor already. Are they able to advise? You need to enquire of 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 am attracted to a two flats in Malden which have in the region of fifty years unexpired on the leases. Will this present a problem?

There are plenty of short leases in Malden. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the premises for a period of time. As the lease shortens the saleability of the lease deteriorates and results in it becoming more costly to extend the lease. This is why it is generally wise to extend the lease term. Sometimes it is difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease because mortgage companies may be reluctant to lend money on such properties. Lease extension can be a difficult process. We advise that you seek professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this field.

Following months of dialogue we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Malden. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

in cases where there is a missing freeholder or if there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to judgment on the premium.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Malden residence is 158 West Hill in November 2010. the Tribunal held that the premium to be paid for the freehold reversion should be £99,650 This case was in relation to 7 flats. The unexpired term was 75.88 years.

I have today had an offer accepted on an apartment in Malden and the estate agent that we are dealing with recommended his lawyer. They quoted nine hundred pounds excluding VAT and 3rd party costs. Does this sound like a good deal?

Don't just go on one estimate. You should obtain like-for-like quotes for your conveyancing in Malden. Then select one that you trust and crucially, is on the approved list of the mortgage company that you are sourcing your mortgage from.