I have given 2 months notice to my existing landlord and have to leave my rented flat in Gloucester by the end of next month. Conveyancing on my purchase is progressing. Can I complete in 5 weeks as don't want to have to move into short term accommodation?
Generally one should not provide notice for your letting until your lawyer suggests that you should. Assuming that you have not already done so, update to your solicitor and request that they seek the assistance the other lawyers, try to an acceptable time-line that all parties will look towards
I have 70 years left on my lease and need a lease extension for my apartment in Gloucester. Conveyancing solicitors on the Platform panel can deal with such extensions right?
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. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 3/1/2026 the requirements read as follows :
Me and my brother have a 4 bedroom Victorian property in Gloucester. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and TSB. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold under the exact same property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?
You should 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 owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Gloucester 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 lenders. You can also check the position with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the work.
I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and identified one near me in Gloucester I like with a park and transport links nearby, the downside is that it only has 51 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Gloucester suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?
If you need a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term may be an issue. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for at least 2 years you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.
What advice can you give us when it comes to appointing a Gloucester conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?
If you are instructing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Gloucester conveyancing practice) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you speak with several firms including non Gloucester conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions might be helpful:
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What are the charges for lease extension conveyancing? How many lease extensions have they conducted in Gloucester in the last 12 months?
I acquired a garden flat in Gloucester, conveyancing having been completed 6 years ago. Can you let me have an estimate of the premium that my landlord can legally expect in return for granting a renewal of my lease? Equivalent flats in Gloucester with over 90 years remaining are worth £197,000. The ground rent is £55 per annum. The lease ends on 21st October 2082
With 56 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £29,500 and £34,000 as well as professional fees.
The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive investigations. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other concerns that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.
Our solicitor in Gloucester has identified a a legal deficiency with the lease for the apartment we are purchasing in Gloucester. The seller’s lawyers have put forward defective title insurance as a solution. We are happy with insurance and will cover the costs. Our solicitor says that as he is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel he must ensure that the lender is happy with this solution. Are we the client or is the bank?
The short answer to your last question is that, notwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest, you and the mortgage company are the client. A precondition to being on the lender approved panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions require your lawyer to disclose issues such as defects will the lease so that the lender can be afforded the opportunity to check with their valuer as to the extent that the value of the property is affected . Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for you.