Having invested time scouring online forums for an online lawyer in Mayfair, most comment that I must instruct a CQS accredited solicitor. What is CQS?

The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme is the recognised quality mark for legal experts in home moving process, trusted by some of the UK's major lenders. Four years ago the Conveyancing Quality Scheme was officially recognised by the Legal Ombudsman. The scheme does not cover licenced conveyancers. Mayfair is one of the numerous areas of the UK where there are Accredited solicitors.

Various online forums that I have visited warn that are the primary cause of delay in Mayfair conveyancing transactions. Is there any truth in this?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released conclusions of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the common causes of delays in the conveyancing process. Searches are unlikely to be the root cause of slowing down conveyancing in Mayfair.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build flat in Mayfair. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Set out below are examples of a few leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Mayfair

Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose?

There are only 62 years left on my lease in Mayfair. I am keen to get lease extension but my landlord is absent. What are my options?

If you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be lengthened by the magistrate. You will be obliged to prove that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to track down the freeholder. In some cases an enquiry agent should be helpful to try and locate and to produce a report which can be used as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer both on devolving into the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court covering Mayfair.

I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord for a lease extension without getting anywhere. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on such issues? Can you recommend a Mayfair conveyancing firm to help?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Mayfair conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Mayfair residence is Flat 1 3 Upper Belgrave Street in December 2010. The Tribunal determined that the price payablefor the Lease extension in respect of the subject premises was £2,202,007 This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 21 years.

Me and my husband are selling a Mayfair flat left to us some years ago in 2010. I have over ten years conveyancing knowledge and, although retired, wish to conduct the legal work. The buyer's conveyancing practitioner has informed me that their building society will not allow you to do your own conveyancing insisting the funds to be transferred to a solicitor's bank account.

Mortgage instructions to lawyers from all mainstream lenders specify that If the vendor is not legally represented the buyer’s lawyers should check whether the lender needs to be told so that a decision can be made as to whether or not they are willing to progress.