I am getting a mortgage offer from Halifax. I hope to employ the services of a Licensed Conveyancer in West Hendon. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel include Licensed Conveyancers?

The Halifax approved solicitor list is, like many other lenders, represented by the Council or Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

My wife and I are purchasing a apartment in West Hendon. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a solicitor? At some point we will need to deposit money into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our money?

Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.

We are getting the release of further monies on our mortgage from Co-operative as we intend to carry out improvements to our house in West Hendon. Do we need to select a local West Hendon solicitor on the Co-operative conveyancing panel to handle the legals?

Co-operative do not ordinarily require firms on their approved list of lawyers to handle such a matter. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Co-operative panel.

I was told four weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed to by Nationwide. Is it usual for Nationwide to only issue the offer once my solicitor in West Hendon is approved on their conveyancing panel? Nationwide have asked my solicitor to see a copy of their Professional Indemnity Insurance Schedule.

A lender would not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Nationwide to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £245,000 and found one close by in West Hendon I like with amenity areas and transport links nearby, however it only has 51 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in West Hendon suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?

If you need a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term will be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you can request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this.

How can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 impact my business premises in West Hendon and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act affords protection to business tenants, giving them the a statutory right to apply to court for a new tenancy and continue in occupation when the lease reaches an end. There are certain specified grounds where a landlord can refrain from granting a lease renewal and the rules are complex. Fees are different for commercial conveyancing. West Hendon is one of our numerous locations in which our lawyers have offices

Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the sale of our £425,000 apartment in West Hendon on Wednesday in a week. The management company has quoted £300 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and 3 years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in West Hendon?

West Hendon conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes normally necessitates the buyer’s conveyancer sending questions for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address these enquiries most will be content to do so. They are at liberty to charge a reasonable charge for responding to questions or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average costs for the information that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some cases it is in excess of £800. The management information fee invoiced by the landlord must be accompanied by a synopsis of rights and obligations in relation to administration fees, without which the charge is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that you have little choice but to pay whatever is demanded should you wish to complete the sale of your home.

My wife and I have hit a brick wall in trying to purchase the freehold in West Hendon. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a West Hendon conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a West Hendon property is First Floor Flat 61 Wilberforce Road in March 2014. The premium payable was £10,130 and the case was remitted back to the Willesden County Court to effect the Vesting Order (Claim No 3W103100). This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 71 years.