I have 71 years unexpired on my lease and need a lease extension for my apartment in Battle. Conveyancing solicitors on the Tesco Bank panel can deal with such extensions right?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are obtaining a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Tesco Bank have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 3/9/2025 the requirements read as follows :
My wife and I are buying a flat in Battle. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a lawyer? On the day of competition we have to put funds into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our deposit?
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.
I am helping my niece sell her property in Battle. Does the conveyancer arrange an EPC or it is for the owner to see to?
After the abolition of HIPs, energy performance certificates remained a compulsory element of moving house. An energy performance certificate must be to hand in advance of the property being marketed. It is not something that conveyancers normally organise. Where you are instructing a Battle conveyancing practitioner they might be able to arrange EPC’s due to their relationships with reputable local assessors
I am selling my flat. I had a double glazing fitted in April 2008, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s mortgage company, Skipton are being difficult. The Battle solicitor who is on the Skipton conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but Skipton are requiring a building regulation certificate. Why do Skipton have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Skipton have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Skipton may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.
I am purchasing a new build house in Battle benefiting from help to buy. The sellers refused to reduce the amount so I negotiated 6k of fixtures and fittings instead. The estate agent told me not disclose to my lawyer about this side-deal as it could impact my loan with the bank. Should I keep quiet?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a flat up to £305k and identified one near me in Battle I like with a park and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 51 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Battle in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?
Should you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be problematic. Reduce the offer 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 twenty four months you could ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.
I am a couple of weeks into a residential purchase having been directed to conveyancers by the local agent to carry out the conveyancing in Battle. I am am very frustrated with the level of service. Could you you assist me in finding new conveyancers?
They would have to be very bad in order to consider replacing them. Has your loan offer been issued? If so you must make them aware of the replacement solicitor and have the offer are re-issued. Your new solicitor ideally needs to be on the mortgage company approved list to avoid supplemental expenses and frustration. So that should be your first question of the new lawyers. The search tool should help you find a lender approved solicitor for your conveyancing in Battle
We had our mortgage agreed in principle yesterday with our lender. We are using a high street conveyancer in Battle yesterday. This morning, our broker contacted us saying that the lender said that we cannot use our solicitor as they aren't on their panel. As novices, we had no idea that the bank had some control over our choice Is this allowed?
You are permitted to choose any lawyer you want to choose for your conveyancing in Battle however if your bank aren't happy with them you would have to incur an extra fee so the bank can appoint their own lawyers. On occasion it is conceivable that your solicitor may apply to get added to the mortgage company panel. Do make the most of internet tools including lenderpanel.com to find a conveyancing solcitor in Battle on the mortgage company panel. You can go into your high street mortgage company branch in Battle. They can recommend conveyancing solicitors in Battle on the bank panel.