The owners have rather brash vendors who has recommended a lock out contract with a down payment two thousand pounds. Is it wise to enter into such agreements?
Lock out agreements are contracts between a property vendor and purchaser granting the buyer the sole right to the sale of the property within an agreed time frame. Essentially, a lock out is a document specifying that you should have a contract at a later time being the contract for the actual sale. It tends to be utilised for buyer confidence though in many situations, the proprietor may stand to benefit from such agreements as well. There are many positives and negatives to having an agreement but you should to check with your conveyancer but beware that it may end up incurring extra in conveyancing charges. For this these contracts are rare when it comes to conveyancing in Bow Street.
About to place a bid on a leasehold property in Bow Street. The property agents advise that it is the norm for flats in Bow Street to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am expecting a loan with Bank of Ireland. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 70 years unexpired.
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. Bank of Ireland have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 25/11/2025 the requirements read as follows :
This question may be naive but I am wet behind the ears as FTB of a two bedroom flat in Bow Street. Do I receive the keys to the premises on completion from my solicitor? If this is the case, I will appoint a local conveyancing solicitor in Bow Street?
There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Your solicitors will electronically transfer the purchase money to the seller's conveyancers, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you should be invited to pick up the keys from the Estate Agents and start moving into the property. Usually this happens early afternoon.
I have been advised by my conveyancer that lack of planning permission insurance is required on my purchase. What is the level of cover for Bow Street conveyancing?
The appropriate level of lack of planning permission indemnity insurance depends on your lender. It would differ for example between Yorkshire Building Society and Coventry Building Society. Conveyancing solicitors as opposed to members of the public take out such insurances.
I am the single beneficiary of my late mum's will and I have everything in my name now, including the my former home in Bow Street. Conveyancing formalities meant that the Land Registry date was in October. I want to move. I do know about the CML six month 'rule', which means that my proprietorship could be regarded the same way as if I'd bought the house in October. Will no one buy the property for half a year?
The CML handbook requires conveyancers to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." Technically you might be affected by that. Some banks would take a practical view as this obligation chiefly exists to identify the purchase and immediately sell or the quick reselling of properties.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a quick, chain free conveyancing. Bow Street is where the house is located. Can you shed any light on this issue?
Flying freeholds in Bow Street are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Bow Street you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Bow Street may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.
We're FTB’s - agreed a price, yet the property agent informed us that the seller will only proceed if we instruct the agent's chosen lawyers as they want an ‘expedited deal’. We would rather use a family solicitor accustomed to conveyancing in Bow Street
It is highly unlikely the sellers are behind this. Should the owner require ‘a quick sale', turning down a motivated buyer is not the way to achieve this. Try to communicate with the sellers directly and make the point that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to go, with finances arranged © you have nothing to sell (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)but you intend to appoint your own,trusted Bow Street conveyancing lawyers - not the ones that will earn the negotiator at the agency a kickback or hit his conveyancing figures set by head office.
My parents are having difficulties in finding their Bow Street land registry title on the website. They have a vague memory back in the 70’s when they purchased the house there were complications with Bow Street not being recognised in some systems.
The vast majority of residences in Bow Street should appear. Have you tried a search to simply the postcode. Normally it will identify all the properties within the postcode. Assuming the property is registered it will show up with a title number. If they bought back in the 70’s it's conceivable it may be unregistered. The property might still be revealed but with the title number identified as 'na'. In this scenario you will need to find the original title deeds which could be with your parent’s lender.