My wife and I have just bought a property in Osterley Park. We have since encountered a number of issues with the property which we consider were omitted in the conveyancing searches. Do we have any recourse? Can you clarify the nature of searches that needed to have been conducted as part of conveyancing in Osterley Park?
The query is vague as what problems have arisen and if they are relate to conveyancing in Osterley Park. Conveyancing searches and due diligence initiated as part of the buying process are designed to help avoid problems. As part of the process, the vendor fills in a document called a Seller’s Property Information Form. If the information is inaccurate, you may have a misrepresentation claim against the vendor for any losses that you have suffered. The survey should have identified any problems with the structure of the property. Assuming a detailed survey was carried out and the issues were not identified, you may have a claim against the surveyor. However, if you did not have a full survey, you may be responsible for fixing any defects that have now been noted. We would always encourage buyers to take every possible step to ensure they are completely aware of the condition of a property before purchase regardless of whether they are buying in Osterley Park.
I have 7378 less than 75 years left on my lease and require a lease extension for my flat in Osterley Park. Conveyancing solicitors on the Virgin panel can deal with such extensions right?
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. Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 18/6/2026 the requirements read as follows :
When it comes to mortgage companies such as Clydesdale, do Osterley Park property lawyers face a yearly amount to be on the list of approved solicitors?
We are unaware of any bank fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration charge to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.
After much negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment in Osterley Park. My financial adviser pressured me to appoint their conveyancer. I paid an advanced payment of £150. A few days later, the lawyer contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Co-operative panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
I am due to exchange contracts on my house. I had a double glazing fitted in February 2006, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s lender, Yorkshire BS are being problematic. The Osterley Park solicitor who is on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but Yorkshire BS are requiring a building regulation certificate. Why do Yorkshire BS have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Yorkshire BS have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Yorkshire BS may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.
My wife and I are selling our house in Osterley Park and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was built on contaminated land. Any high street Osterley Park lawyer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers instructed a factory type conveyancing outfit rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Osterley Park. We have lived in Osterley Park for three years we know of no issue. Should we contact our local Authority to get clarification need.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing lawyer already. Are they able to advise? You need to check with 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 life insurance to cover that same sickness)
How does conveyancing in Osterley Park differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Osterley Park contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is constructed. This is because house builders in Osterley Park usually acquire the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Osterley Park or who has acted in the same development.
There are only Fifty years unexpired on my flat in Osterley Park. I am keen to get lease extension but my freeholder is can not be found. What options are available to me?
On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be lengthened by the Court. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to locate the freeholder. In some cases an enquiry agent may be useful to conduct investigations and prepare a report which can be used as proof that the freeholder can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer both on devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Osterley Park.
Having spent months of dialogue we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Osterley Park. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?
in cases where there is a missing freeholder or where there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the LVT to arrive at the amount due.
An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Osterley Park flat is 6 Jessamine Road in August 2013. The Tribunals valuation (as annexed to the decision) calculated the amount payable as £18,355 for the freehold reversion This case related to 2 flats. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 72.39 years.