When will exchange of contracts take place for sale conveyancing in Hadley Wood and do I need to be at the conveyancers office?
Where you are round the corner to one of the conveyancing solicitors in Hadley Wood you are invited in to sign documents. However, the firms we recommend offer a national conveyancing service and give as equally comprehensive and professional a job for you when communicating with you electronically. The signing of the contract is not the point of no return. A signed contract is just a prerequisite for the conveyancer to exchange contracts when the time is right, which will usually be very shortly after signing. The procedure is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where a lengthy "chain" is in the mix, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Hadley Wood)to be in the office available at the end of the phone to exchange contracts.
My lender has suggested solicitors on their panel based in Hadley Wood but I would rather choose a conveyancing lawyer in Hadley Wood round the corner to me. Are you able to assist?
It is by no means the case that all Hadley Wood conveyancing practices are listed all lender’s conveyancing panel. Please make use of the above search tool to identify a Hadley Wood conveyancing conveyancer on the on the lender panel.
Should my conveyancer be raising questions regarding flooding during the conveyancing in Hadley Wood.
The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for lawyers carrying out conveyancing in Hadley Wood. There are those who purchase a property in Hadley Wood, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical destruction, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or dispose of the property. Steps can be carried out during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the purchaser.
Lawyers are not qualified to offer advice on flood risk, however there are a various searches that can be undertaken by the purchaser or by their conveyancers which can give them a better understanding of the risks in Hadley Wood. The standard property information forms supplied to a purchaser’s conveyancer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) contains a standard question of the owner to discover whether the property has historically flooded. If flooding has previously occurred and is not notified by the vendor, then a purchaser could bring a legal claim for losses resulting from an incorrect response. A buyer’s solicitors should also conduct an environmental search. This will disclose if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, additional investigations should be conducted.
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up as part of conveyancing in Hadley Wood?
Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Hadley Wood. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Hadley Wood with the aim of expediting the sale process?
- A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Hadley Wood can be avoided where you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation which will be required by the purchasers’ conveyancers. If you have carried out any alterations to the residence would they have required Landlord’s consent? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Hadley Wood state that internal structural changes or laying down wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord approving such works. Where you fail to have the approvals in place do not communicate with the landlord without contacting your conveyancer in the first instance. You may think that you are aware of the number of years remaining on your lease but it would be wise to double-check via your lawyers. A purchaser's conveyancer will not be happy to advise their client to where the lease term is below 80 years. In the circumstances it is important at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale. If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should make sure that you have the original share certificate. Arranging a duplicate share certificate is often a time consuming process and frustrates many a Hadley Wood conveyancing deal. Where a new share is necessary, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity. A minority of Hadley Wood leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. Any bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their solicitors.
I have attempted and failed to negotiate with my landlord to extend my lease without getting anywhere. Can a leaseholder apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a Hadley Wood conveyancing firm to help?
Most definitely. We are happy to put you in touch with a Hadley Wood conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Hadley Wood residence is Flat 2 2 Netherfield Road in April 2010. The Tribunale held that premium payable for a 90 year extension to the existing Lease should be £7,705. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 76 years.
I recently become aware that one of the directors of the solicitors acting on the purchase conveyancing in Hadley Wood is a relative of the owners that we are buying from. Is this acceptable?
On the basis that no conflict arises this is allowable. If you are requiring mortgage finance then the lender may have a say as many lenders have specific requirements on this. For example for Barclays plc as of 23/3/2025, the requirements read as follows :