I am need of leasehold conveyancing for a flat in a fairly new development (five years old) in Finchley. Almost all the appartments have already been occupied. Do I need carry out the neighbourhood searches for my conveyancing in Finchley?
You would be putting yourself at risk in refusing to carrying out Finchley conveyancing searches. Without searches you have no clarity over flooding, environmental etc which may mean you walk away due to potential problems down the line. If you are buying without a mortgage there is no legal requirement to have them, but we would seriously advise in no uncertain terms that your solicitor conducts them. Where speed and cost are top of your concerns you should consider with your lawyer about the options such as indemnity insurance available to you
It is 10 years ago since I bought my property in Finchley. Conveyancing lawyers have now been appointed on the sale but I can't find the title deeds. Is this a major issue?
You need not be too concerned. Firstly the deeds may be retained by your lender or they may be in the possession of the lawyers who oversaw the purchase. Secondly in most cases the title will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you own the property by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring up to date copy of the land registers. Almost all conveyancing in Finchley relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is unregistered it is more of a problem but is not insurmountable.
I got the keys to my house on 13 May and my personal details is yet to be on the land registry website. Any reason for this? My conveyancing solicitor in Finchley said it would be dealt with in less than a month. Are transfers in Finchley particularly slow to register?
There is nothing unique about conveyancing in Finchley registration formalities. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timeframes can adjust subject to the party submitting the application, whether there are errors and whether the Land registry need to notify any third persons or bodies. Currently in the region of three quarters of such applications are fully addressed within two weeks but occasionally there can be protracted hold-ups. Registration takes place after the buyer is living at the premises so 'speed' is not always top priority yet if it is urgent that the the registration takes place urgently then you or your lawyers can speak with the land registry and explain the circumstances.
Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Finchley ahead of retaining lawyers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. The surveyor advised that some mortgage companies may not grant a mortgage on this type of premises.
It varies from the lender to lender. Santander has different requirements from Birmingham Midshires. If you e-mail us we can check via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Finchley. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Finchley especially if they are familiar with such properties in Finchley.
I am thinking of appointing a conveyancing practitioner in Finchley for my home move. Is there any facility to review a solicitor's complaints history with the profession’s regulator?
One can review published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from inquisitions from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a solicitors history, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For callers outside the UK, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator sometimes monitor telephone calls for training purposes.
I only have Seventy years left on my flat in Finchley. I now want to get lease extension but my freeholder is can not be found. What are my options?
If you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the magistrate. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to find the landlord. On the whole an enquiry agent would be useful to conduct investigations and prepare an expert document which can be used as proof that the freeholder can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Finchley.
After years of negotiations we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Finchley. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?
Where there is a missing freeholder or if there is dispute about the premium for a lease extension, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the LVT to determine the premium.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Finchley property is Ground Floor 110 Station Road in June 2013. The Tribunal found that the premium payable for a lease extension should be £31,665. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 56.65 years.