It has come to my attention via my estate agent that my Shortlands the law firm I have appointed is not on the bank Solicitor panel. How can I check?

Your first step should be to contact your Shortlands conveyancer. You lawyer should advise you of the situation. If they are not on the panel they may be able to suggest a Shortlands conveyancing practice that is on the conveyancing panel for your lender.

I am buying a semi-detached house in Shortlands. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Shortlands you will have to appoint a solicitor on your lender's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Shortlands.

About to purchase a new build apartment in Shortlands. 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.

Here are examples of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Shortlands

Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. 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. 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. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £195,000 and identified one close by in Shortlands I like with amenity areas and station nearby, however it only has 51 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Shortlands in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?

Should you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be an issue. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you can request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this.

Planning to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Shortlands. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they will have a report out to me within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Shortlands should include some of the following:

What options are open to you if an adjoining owner is in violation of a provision in their lease? Your conveyancers should enable you to have an understanding of the building insurance requirements It needs to be made clear to you if the lease allows you to alter or upgrade aspects of the flat- you must know whether it relates to all alterations or limited to structural alteration, and whether permission is mandated necessary if lease provides for a reserve fund? Alterations to the flat

I am the registered owner of a ground-floor 1950’s flat in Shortlands. In the absence of agreement between myself and the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the amount due for the purchase of the freehold?

Absolutely. We can put you in touch with a Shortlands conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Shortlands property is Ravensbourne Lodge 4 Highland Road in February 2013. the Tribunal held that the amount payable for the freehold was £22,268