I am acquiring a brand new duplex in Blackfriars and my conveyancer is advising me that she has to the bank to disclose incentives from the builder. I am under pressure to exchange and I would rather not delay matters. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your conveyancer. A precondition to being on a bank panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The UK Finance Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
At what point will exchange of contracts happen for residential conveyancing in Blackfriars and am I required to be at the conveyancers branch?
If you are round the corner to our conveyancing solicitors in Blackfriars you are invited in to sign the paperwork. However, the lender approved solicitors we work with supply countrywide coverage for conveyancing and provide as equally detailed and professional a job for you when dealing with you digitally. The executing of the contract is not when everything is set in stone. A signed contract is just a prerequisite for the firm to address the formalities when the time is right, which is ordinarily shortly after signing. The exchange process is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where a lengthy "chain" is involved, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Blackfriars)to be in the office at the appropriate time.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £305k and found one round the corner in Blackfriars I like with amenity areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 52 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Blackfriars for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?
Should you need a home loan the shortness of the lease may be an issue. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of twenty four months you can request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this matter.
Should I be concerned about brokers that I am dealing with are suggesting a factory type conveyancing firm rather than a High Street Blackfriars conveyancing practice?
As with lots of service providers, often suggestions from family and friends can be worth their weight in gold. But there are numerous people with a keen interest in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and mortgage companies might all put forward solicitors to choose. Sometimes these solicitors might be known to one of the organisations as experts in their field, but sometimes there might be a commercial relationship behind the recommendation. You are at liberty to appoint your own lawyer. You need to be aware that most lenders specify a panel list of solicitors you are obliged to use for the lender aspect of your transaction.
I've found a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a reasonable price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Blackfriars. Conveyancing solicitors have are soon to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?
Most houses in Blackfriars are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Blackfriars in which case you should be looking for a Blackfriars conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the landlord’sconsent to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your conveyancer should report to you on the legal implications.
I have attempted and failed to negotiate with my landlord for a lease extension without success. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on such issues? Can you recommend a Blackfriars conveyancing firm to act on my behalf?
Most definitely. We are happy to put you in touch with a Blackfriars conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension case for a Blackfriars property is Flat 89 Trinity Court Grays Inn Road in February 2013. the Tribunal found that the premium to be paid by the tenant on the grant of a new lease, in accordance with section 56 and Schedule 13 to the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 should be £36,229. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 66.8 years.
I purchased a property in Blackfriars last 16/7/2025 and to date it is still not recorded with HM Land Registry. It is part of a development site and my property lawyer told me that it can take over a year to complete the registration formalities. I have spoken with HM Land Registry directly and they have informed me the original application was cancelled due to questions not being addressed in time. Should I be concerned?
get in touch with your conveyancing practitioner - if you are not getting sensible responses, look up their firm’s complaints protocol and escalate your problem to a Partner. Registrations for Blackfriars conveyancing are not known to be particularly slow.