Is there a reason why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Nine Elms is more expensive?
In short, leasehold conveyancing in Nine Elms and elsewhere usually warrants more work compared to freehold transactions. This includes lease investigation, corresponding with the landlord about the service of appropriate notices, securing up-to-date service charge and management information, securing the freeholder’s consents and reviewing management accounts. The obligations on both the landlord and the tenant in the lease need to be studied by the buyer’s conveyancing team and read from beginning to end – regardless of the fact the lease has passed through many different property solicitors hands since it was first granted.
I am buying a 3 bedroom semi in Nine Elms. We would like to carry out an extension to the side at the property.Will the conveyancing process include checks to ascertain if these alterations are prohibited?
Your solicitor should review the deeds as conveyancing in Nine Elms will sometimes identify restrictions in the title documents which prohibit categories of changes or need the consent of a 3rd party. Some extensions call for local authority planning consent and approval in compliance with building regulations. Some locations are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which frequently prevent or affect extensions. It would be wise to check these things with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.
I have paid off my mortgage with Barclays. I assume I don't need a Nine Elms lawyer on the Barclays panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.
If you have finished paying off your Barclays mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Barclays mortgage from the register. Barclays, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where Barclays has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- Barclays has instructed the Land Registry to do so
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Nine Elms off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Co-operative. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Co-operative, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Co-operative conveyancing panel.
I am intent on selling our home in Nine Elms and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being constructed on contaminated land. A local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the buyers instructed a national conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Nine Elms. We have lived in Nine Elms for 4 years we know that this is a non issue. Should we contact our local Authority to obtain clarification that there is no issue.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. What do they say? You must enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same ailment)
2 months have elapsed following my purchase conveyancing in Nine Elms concluded. I have checked the Land Registry website which shows that I paid £150,000 when infact I paid £180,000. Why the discrepancy?
The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the property from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.
Taking into account that I am about to part with £400,000 on a two bedroom apartment in Nine Elms I would like to have a conversation with the lawyer regarding theconveyancing before instructing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?
We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you liaising with the solicitor due to be carrying out your property ownership legalities in Nine Elms.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique individual, not a file number. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are quoted for your conveyancing in Nine Elms should be the figure that you are charged.
My partner and I recently found out that one of the partners of the law firm undertaking the purchase conveyancing in Nine Elms is an uncle of the owners that we are purchasing from. Is this permitted?
Provided there is no conflict of interest this should be fine. Where you are requiring mortgage finance then the lender may have a say as many lenders have specific instructions on this. For example for RBS (One Account) as of 3/6/2025, the requirements read as follows :