Just been in touch with my conveyancing solicitor in Cheetham Hill who acted for me 18 months ago and wanted a conveyancing estimate based on an identical type of house move (a leasehold residence and a freehold premises) of similar values with a loan from Skipton Building Society. I am now being quoted double. Am I right to be tempted to shop around for a cheaper online property lawyer?
The charges appear a little high. If you shop around you could get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by as much as a hundred pounds. On the other hand, if you were pleased with the assistance the firm gave you mightcome to regret choosing an a cheaper conveyancer. If is important to ensure the conveyancer can also act for Skipton Building Society. Do use our search tool to get a quote a Cheetham Hill conveyancing firm on the Skipton Building Society member panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Cheetham Hill.
Can you help? My Cheetham Hill solicitor is informing me me that he is legally obliged toapply for Cheetham Hill conveyancing searches stemming from the fact thatthe firm are on the Lloydsconveyancing panel. Is this really necessary?
You have limited options available to you. Given that you are taking out a loan with a lender your conveyancing practitioner has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your conveyancing practitioner would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your lender’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to comply with the CML Handbook requirements . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Cheetham Hill conveyancing searches.
I have Fifty Six years remaining on my lease and require a lease extension for my apartment in Cheetham Hill. Conveyancing solicitors on the Bank of Ireland panel can deal with such extensions correct?
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 14/4/2025 the requirements read as follows :
I purchased a 4 bedroom Georgian property in Cheetham Hill. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Birmingham Midshires. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same address. Is it worth asking Birmingham Midshires to clarify?
You need to assess 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 proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Cheetham Hill and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also question the situation with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the conveyancing.
Should I appoint a Cheetham Hill conveyancing lawyer who is local to the property I am buying? An old friend can execute the conveyancing however they are based 300kilometers drive away.
The primary upside of using a high street Cheetham Hill conveyancing firm is that you can drop in to sign documents, hand in your ID and pester them if necessary. Having local Cheetham Hill know how is a plus. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If you know people who instructed your friend and on the whole were happy that should outweigh using an unknown Cheetham Hill conveyancing solicitor just because they are Cheetham Hill based.
What makes a Cheetham Hill lease unacceptable for security purposes?
There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in Cheetham Hill. Most leases are drafted differently and legal mistakes in the legal wording can result in certain provisions are missing. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:
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Insurance obligations A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party.
A defective lease can cause problems when trying to sell a property as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. Halifax, Virgin Money, and Britannia all have very detailed requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. Where a lender has been advised by their lawyers that the lease is defective they may refuse to grant the mortgage, obliging the buyer to withdraw.
I own a garden flat in Cheetham Hill, conveyancing having been completed July 2001. How much will my lease extension cost? Comparable properties in Cheetham Hill with a long lease are worth £216,000. The ground rent is £50 levied per year. The lease ends on 21st October 2094
With 69 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 plus professional fees.
The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs in the absence of detailed due diligence. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other concerns that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.