I own a freehold property in Glenfield but still pay rent, why is this and what is this?
It’s unusual for properties in Glenfield and has limited impact for conveyancing in Glenfield but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.
Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of fresh rentcharges from 1977 onwards.
Previous rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 is to be extinguished.
I am about to put a bid on a leasehold property in Glenfield. The property agents assure me that it is the norm for flats in Glenfield to have less than 75 years left on the lease. I am getting a mortgage with Bank of Ireland. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has Seventy One 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 11/6/2026 the requirements read as follows :
My wife and I are purchasing a apartment in Glenfield. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a lawyer? At some point we have to put money into their account. What protection do we have from them run away with our monies?
Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.
Forgive me if this question is silly but I am new to the house moving as FTB of a ground floor flat in Glenfield. Do I collect the keys to the premises on the completion date from my solicitor? If this is the case, I will instruct a local conveyancing solicitor in Glenfield?
There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Conveyancing lawyers for you will arrange to send the purchase money to the vendor’s conveyancers, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you should be invited to receive the keys from the property Agents and move into your new home. Usually this occurs early afternoon.
I can not work out if my bank obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called into my local Glenfield bank branch on various occasions and was told it does not impact the mortgage offer and they would lend. My Glenfield conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called to say that they refuse to lend based on their specific requirements. I have no idea who is right.
Provided that the conveyancing practitioner is on the mortgage company approved list, they must adhere to the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook conditions for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the bank will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
I have been told that property searches are a common reason for stalling in Glenfield house deals. Is there any truth in this?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published findings of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the top 10 causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Searches are unlikely to be the root cause of delay in conveyancing in Glenfield.
How does conveyancing in Glenfield differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Glenfield approach us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is built. This is because developers in Glenfield usually buy the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Glenfield or who has acted in the same development.
New build sellers have suggested I use a solicitor and I've obtained an estimate from them. It's almost £300 less expensive than my family Glenfield conveyancing practitioner. What's the catch?
Developers frequently have panels of solicitors who are quick and who know the seller’s contract and lawyer. As many developers offer an inducement to use their approved solicitor for this reason, any increased cost can be avoided and a developer will not suggest a conveyancing warehouse and run the risk of having the transaction stall when they want exchange in 28 days. A counter-argument for not agreeing to use the suggested lawyer is that they may prove reluctant to fight for your interests at the risk of alienating the sellers. Where you have concerns that this may be the case you should keep with your local Glenfield conveyancer.