I plan on buying a leasehold flat in Lancashire. My lawyer is not on the bank approved list. Can I still retain my Lancashire conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the lender panel?
You have a number of choices available to you here
- Complete the deal with your chosen Lancashire solicitor but your lender will no doubt use a lawyer from their approved panel. This will result in additional charges and likely delay.
- Choose a new conveyancer to conduct the conveyancing, ensuring that they are on the mortgage company conveyancing panel.
- Convince your property lawyer to pull out all the stops to get accepted on the lender’s conveyancing panel
I purchased a freehold residence in Lancashire but nevertheless invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?
It’s unusual for properties in Lancashire and has limited impact for conveyancing in Lancashire 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 have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of fresh rentcharges post 1977.
Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 will be dispensed with completely.
About to place an offer on a leasehold property in Lancashire. The selling agents say that it is standard for flats in Lancashire to have less than 75 years remaining. I am obtaining a mortgage with Accord Mortgages. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 69 years unexpired.
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. Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 1/9/2026 the requirements read as follows :
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on last month in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Lancashire is the location of the property. Is there any guidance you can give?
Flying freeholds in Lancashire are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Lancashire you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Lancashire may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.
I only have Seventy years left on my flat in Lancashire. I now wish to extend my lease but my freeholder is can not be found. What should I do?
If you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be extended by the magistrate. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you have made all reasonable attempts to track down the landlord. In some cases an enquiry agent would be helpful to try and locate and to produce a report to be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on proving the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court overseeing Lancashire.
Lancashire Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Queries Prior to Purchasing
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How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments? Please note if it is fewer than 80 years it will affect the marketability of the property. Check with your bank that they are happy with remaining years on the lease. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will most likely have to extend the lease at some point and you need to have some idea of what this would cost. For most Lancashirelease extensions you will be be obliged to have owned the residence for a couple of years before you are legally able to exercise a lease extension. The best form of lease structure is a share of the freehold. In this scenario the leaseholders benefit from control and although a managing agent is frequently retained if it is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants.
Are Lancashire conveyancing solicitors under an obligation to the Law Society to publish clear conveyancing figures?
Contained within the Solicitors Code of Conduct are specific rules and regulations as to how the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) allow solicitors to publicise their fees to clients.The Law Society have a practice note giving advice on how to publicise transparent charges to avoid breaching any such rule. Practice notes are not legal advice issued by the Law Society and is not intended as the only standard of good practice a conveyancing solicitor should adhere to. The Practice Note does, however, represent the Law Society’s view of acceptable practice for publicising conveyancing charges, and accordingly it’s a recommended read for any solicitor or conveyancer in Lancashire or further afield.