I am about to put an offer on a leasehold property in Hackbridge. The estate agents tell me that it is usual for flats in Hackbridge to have less than 75 years left on the lease. I am getting a loan with Bank of Ireland. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 70 years to go.
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 1/9/2025 the requirements read as follows :
My bid for a property was accepted at auction in Hackbridge. Conveyancing is necessary. What is next?
Now that you have exchanged you will need to appoint a conveyancing practitioner as a matter of urgency as you will have a fast approaching a drop dead date to complete the transaction. All auction property will ordinarily have a corresponding legal pack. This will likely include the copy title deeds, local authority and drainage searches. If you have purchased leasehold premises the auction papers should contain a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing paperwork relating to leasehold premises. You need to give this to the lawyer instructed by you ASAP. Do make sure that that you have the requisite funding in place to complete the transaction on the set completion date.
Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Co-operative. Hackbridge conveyancing practitioners are selected. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Co-operative?
There is no definitive answer here. Have Co-operative conducted the valuation? Have you informed Co-operative as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Co-operative conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.
My partner and I are at the point of looking at houses in Hackbridge and I am about to put in an offer. Is it advisable to have my lawyer on ‘stand by’? I am planning to take a home loan with Barclays.
You should start requesting conveyancing estimates from solicitors ASAP. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on to the selling agent. As you are seeking a mortgage with Barclays, ask your prospective lawyers if they are on the Barclays conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
Is it necessary to take out insurance to address the risk of chancel repairs when buying a residence in Hackbridge?
Unless a prior acquisition of the premises completed after 12 October 2013 you can expect conveyancing practitioners conducting conveyancing in Hackbridge to remain encouraging a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.
I used Action Conveyancing several years ago for my conveyancing in Hackbridge. I now require my file but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Hackbridge of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
I am looking for a flat up to £245,000 and found one near me in Hackbridge I like with a park and railway links in the vicinity, however it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Hackbridge in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a lease with such few years left?
If you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease will likely be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you can request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this matter.
My brother has encouraged me to appoint his conveyancing solicitors in Hackbridge. Should I use them?
There are no two ways about it the ideal way to choose a conveyancing practitioner is to get recommendations from friends or family who have actually experience in using the conveyancer you're contemplating using.