I plan on acquiring a flat in Putney Heath. My Solicitor has never been on on the lender approved list. Can I still retain my Putney Heath conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the bank approved list?

One will need to appoint a conveyancer to deal with the formalities if you take out a loan to buy your property. They will conduct all the necessary legal checks on the property, ensuring that you’re registered as proprietor and ensure that all the required mortgage paperwork is in order. One can appoint a Putney Heath property lawyer of your choice. However, if the property lawyer appointed is not on the bank solicitor panel supplemental costs will be levied as separate legal representation will be required by them. Lender panel applications may be submitted, so where your solicitor has not previously sought membership they can do so.

My wife and I have recently appointed a conveyancing solicitor in Putney Heath. I I would like to check if they are accepted on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. Can you assist?

You should contact the conveyancer and enquire if they can act for the lender. Alternatively please get in touch with Aldermore who may be able to help.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in Putney Heath. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Set out below is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Putney Heath

If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. 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. 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.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Putney Heath conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Putney Heath conveyancing practice) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggest that you speak with two or three firms including non Putney Heath conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions could be of use:

How many lease extensions have they completed in Putney Heath in the last year? How familiar is the firm with lease extension legislation?

We have reached the end of our tether in negotiating a lease extension in Putney Heath. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

in cases where there is a missing landlord or if there is dispute 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 First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to decide the price.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Putney Heath flat is 19 St. Margarets Crescent in August 2010. the tribunal was of the view that the premium to be paid by the leaseholder for the freehold reversion was £51,983.00 This case affected 3 flats. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 66.25 years.

We have had DIP from Chelsea Building Society who indicated that they will lend up to £218k. At what point do we need to instruct a solicitor for conveyancing? Putney Heath is where we are .

It would be wise to appoint a solicitor now and ask them to generate a file for you. This will enable: 1) the selling agent to issue a Sales Memo to all parties 2) the seller’s lawyer to submit the draft contract. However, do not ask your property lawyer to start searches until you have your valuation report via Chelsea Building Society and you are happy to move forward.