I am about to put an offer on a leasehold flat in Bridgnorth. The property agents tell me that it is standard for flats in Bridgnorth to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am getting a loan with Bank of Ireland. Is this going to be acceptable if the lease has 72 years unexpired.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting 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 1/11/2025 the requirements read as follows :
I am helping my step-mother sell her house in Bridgnorth. Will the conveyancer arrange the energy assessment or do I organise this?
Following the demise of Home Information Packs, EPC’s was kept a mandatory element of selling a property. An energy assessment should be to hand before the property is advertised. This is not something that conveyancers ordinarily arrange. Where you are using a Bridgnorth conveyancing practitioner they might be willing to arrange energy performance certificates due to their relationships with reputable Bridgnorth assessors
My uncle informed me that in buying a property in Bridgnorth there could be various restrictions preventing external alterations to a property. Is this right?
There are anumerous of properties in Bridgnorth which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to execute external variations. Part of the conveyancing in Bridgnorth should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
is it true that all Bridgnorth conveyancing solicitors on the Aldermore conveyancing panel are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Aldermore conveyancing panel they would need to be overseen by the SRA. Some lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such organisation would be overseen by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
I own a terraced Victorian house in Bridgnorth. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Clydesdale. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Bridgnorth and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also enquire as to the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.
I am using a search engine for the phrase cheap conveyancing in Bridgnorth it shows results of many solicitorsin the vicinity. With so much choice what is the best way to find the right conveyancer for purchase transaction?
The preferential way of choosing a suitable conveyancer is via personal referral, so enquire of friends and those you trust who have purchased a property in Bridgnorth or a reputable estate agent or financial adviser. Costs for conveyancing in Bridgnorth differ, so it's advisable to request a minimum of four fee calculations from different property lawyers. Make sure that you clarify that the charges are assured not to escalate.
Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Seventy years unexpired on my flat in Bridgnorth. I now want to get lease extension but my landlord is can not be found. What options are available to me?
If you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be granted an extra 90 years by the Court. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to track down the freeholder. For most situations an enquiry agent should be useful to try and locate and prepare an expert document to be accepted by the court as proof that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer both on investigating the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court covering Bridgnorth.
Bridgnorth Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing
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It would be prudent to discover as much as possible concerning the company managing the block as they will either make your life much simpler or problematic. As the owner of a leasehold property you are often in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to day to day matters such as the tidiness of the common parts. Don't be shy to ask prospective neighbours what they think of their service. Finally, find out the dates that the service fees are due to the relevant party and precisely how they are spending that money. The best form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this situation the leaseholders enjoy control and even though a managing agent is often employed where the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. What is the the remaining lease term?
What is the reason for my property lawyer requiring various items of identification ahead of starting my conveyancing in Bridgnorth?
Bridgnorth property lawyers are required by the Law Society, Solicitors Regulation Authority, HM Land Registry and current AML legislation to record that the have verified the identity of their clients. It is also sometimes a requirement of your mortgage offer. Furthermore they have to complete various forms, particularly those relating to SDLT and need to have details such as your full names, national insurance number and date of birth.