I have just over seventy years unexpired on my lease and require a lease extension for my apartment in Grays. Conveyancing solicitors on the Platform panel can deal with such extensions correct?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing 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 6/12/2025 the requirements read as follows :
When it comes to lenders such as Santander, do Grays conveyancing practitioners face a fee to be on the conveyancing panel?
We are unaware of any mortgage company fees to be on their panel, although some do levy an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.
Is there a list of Coventry BS panel conveyancers in Grays on the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Website?
No. There is no such directory service on the CML or Building Society Association websites. Very few lending institutions make their panel listings available over the internet. Where you are looking for a Grays property lawyer on the Coventry BS please use our facility.
I currently have a mortgage with Virgin Money for my property in Grays. Conveyancing was finalised 12 months ago. Should I wish to rent out the flat and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a BTL mortgage or inform Virgin Money?
Your original mortgage agreement with Virgin Money will provide that you need their approval in advance of renting your property as this is likely to be a breach of Virgin Money’s mortgage conditions. In many cases banks or building societies will allow you to rent out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Virgin Money directly. You need not do this via a Virgin Money conveyancing panel firm.
What can a local search inform me about the house I am buying in Grays?
Grays conveyancing often commences with the ordering local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations such as PSG The local search plays an important part in most Grays conveyancing purchase; as long as you wish to avoid any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search should supply data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 subject headings.
I am looking for a flat up to £245,000 and found one round the corner in Grays I like with amenity areas and station nearby, the downside is that it only has 61 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Grays for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?
If you require a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be problematic. Discount the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.
Last June I purchased a leasehold house in Grays. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?
Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
My wife and I have hit a brick wall in seeking a lease extension in Grays. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?
Where there is a missing freeholder or where there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to judgment on the premium.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Grays residence is Various @ Colombus Square in January 2012. the Tribunal calculated the premiums to be paid for new leases for each of the flats in Mariners Walk to be £3822 and the premium to be paid for the new lease of 2 Knights Court to be £4439. This case was in relation to 13 flats. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 76 years.
Been reading online that Grays solicitors are more expensive than licensed conveyancers in Grays to use when buying a property. Am I better off using a conveyancer or a solicitor if I am purchasing a house in Grays.
When it comes to conveyancing in Grays the costs are unlikely to vary dramatically depending on whether the legal expert is a licenced conveyancer or solicitor.