Find a Lender-Approved Local Conveyancer in Temple Fortune

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Choosing the right solicitor is the most important decision when it comes to your Temple Fortune house move

Reasons to use our Temple Fortune conveyancing solicitors

  • 1 The mark of a good conveyancing solicitor in Temple Fortune is quality not quantity. The level of service offered by conveyancing "factories" (sometimes 'recommended' by national chain estate agents) sometimes falls short of the high standards of professionalism you would hope for.
  • 2 The organisations shown on our web pages have a mix of conveyancing lawyers, legal executives and support staff handling over one hundred thousand cases annually.
  • 3 Firms accustomed to conveyancing in Temple Fortune regularly deal withlocal issues specific to Temple Fortune and therefore you may benefit from better advice and expeditious conveyancing.
  • 4 The Temple Fortune conveyancing firms that we work with are committed to supplying the most cost, efficient and transparent conveyancing service to borrowers, sellers and investors in Temple Fortune
  • 5 Cut price packages from online conveyancers might be tempting. However, these organisations are often based hundreds of miles away with little appreciation of the factors that affect property transactions in Temple Fortune

Examples of recent conveyancing in Temple Fortune since December 2024*

Conveyance

of flat Elton Avenue EN5 2EB, acquired for £565,000. Leasehold conveyancing legalities included: dealing with appropriate requisitions and enquiries, taking formal instructions from and updating the seller client, ordering official copies of the title

Disposal

of semi residence, Sherrards Way, EN5 2BN completing on 06/01/2025 at a price of £703,000. The legal transfer of property included amongst the various tasks: dealing with appropriate requisitions and enquiries, agreeing completion date with parties, preparing statement detailing charges

Disposal

of semi property, King Edward Road, EN5 5AP completing on 17/01/2025 at a price of £286,760. The conveyancing process incorporates some of the following tasks: drafting the sale agreement and Transfer, sending conveyancing papers to buyers representatives, sending the transfer to the seller for signature in readiness for completion

Transfer

of terraced residence, Potters Lane, EN5 5BH completing on 15/01/2025 at a price of £445,000. The legal transfer of property incorporates some of the following tasks: dealing with appropriate requisitions and enquiries, agreeing completion date with parties, sending title deeds and signed transfer to purchaser’s lawyers

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in Temple Fortune

Am I correct in assuming that the fact that my conveyancer in Temple Fortune is not identified on my bank's solicitor panel that there is a problem with the quality of her work?

It would not be wise to jump to that conclusion. There are all sorts of perfectly plausible explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The most common reasons for removal are: (1) lack of transactions (2) the lawyer is a sole practitioner (3) as part of the HSBC panel reduction (4) regulatory contact by SRA (5) accidental removal. Should you be concerned you should simply call the Temple Fortune conveyancing firm and enquire why they are no longer on the approved list for your bank.

Can you recommend a Lloyds TSB Bank approved Temple Fortune conveyancing solicitor who can have us moved in within a very limited time frame? Am I best advised to go for a high street Temple Fortune firm or a web based comparison site?

We can recommend some very good Temple Fortune conveyancing firms. You can also walk up the high street in Temple Fortune. Visit a couple of firms and ask to see a conveyancing solicitor for a quote. Explain your deadline together with your reasons and get an assurance on your deadline. Appoint the lawyer that appears most efficient.

I am the registered owner of a freehold house in Temple Fortune but nevertheless pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Temple Fortune and has limited impact for conveyancing in Temple Fortune 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 from 1977 onwards.

Old rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence after 2037 will be dispensed with completely.

I am about to put a bid on a leasehold flat in Temple Fortune. The property agents tell me that it is the norm for flats in Temple Fortune to have less than 75 years left on the lease. I am obtaining a mortgage with Nationwide Building Society. Is this going to be acceptable 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. Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 25/3/2025 the requirements read as follows :

- Our minimum unexpired lease term is 55 years, except where lending is over 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat, in which case our minimum unexpired term is 90 years.
- There must be at least 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term (regardless of the length of lease at the start).

Where the unexpired lease term is different to that recorded on the mortgage offer, the following clarifies if we need to be informed:

Second hand property:
- If the unexpired lease term on the offer is 85 years or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 85 years
- if the unexpired lease term on the offer is less than 85 years – advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported
- For equity share applications - advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer
- Where lending is over 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat and the unexpired lease term on the offer is 90 years or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 90 years.

New build property:
- If the unexpired lease term stated on the offer is 125 years (flat) / 250 years (house) or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 125 years (flat) / 250 years (house)
- For equity share applications - always advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer

Lease terms such as ground rent and event fees must be reasonable at all times during the term of the lease and adhere to our requirements below. If you’re unsure as to whether the terms of a lease are unreasonable or onerous, please refer the details to us in plain English for Valuer consideration. If the potentially onerous terms are in relation to the ground rent please include the current ground rent figure per annum, how often it will be reviewed and the price structure it will be reviewed against. See the guidance below.

SECOND HAND PROPERTIES

Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (Will be declined):
- Unexpired lease term less than 55 years
- Unexpired lease term less than 90 years where we are lending more than 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat
- Less than 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term
- Ground Rent greater than 0.5% of the property value
- Ground Rent doubles less than every 20 years (e.g. doubles every 5, 10 or 15 years) - acceptable if doubles every 20 years or more
- Ground Rent is compounded RPI
- Ground Rent review period is less than or equal to 5 years

Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):
- Unexpired lease term is 55 to 85 years
- Ground Rent greater than 0.1% and less than or equal to 0.5% of the property value
- Ground Rent escalation is linked to any indices greater than RPI
- Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building*
- Ground Rent review period is greater than 5 and less than 10 years
- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial, etc
- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Service Charges greater than 1% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Anything that appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary

Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):
- Unexpired lease term greater than 85 years (Minimum 90 years where we are lending more than 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat)
- Ground Rent less than or equal to 0.1% of the property value
- Ground Rent review period greater than or equal to 10 years
- Ground Rent escalation less than or equal to RPI

NEW BUILD PROPERTIES (includes office conversions)

Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (Will be declined)
- Unexpired lease term less than 125 years on a new build flat or less than 250 years on a new build house (does not apply to Shared Ownership)
- Any lease which is subject to a Ground Rent (or Annual Rent) being charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis
- Any lease which is subject to a Ground Rent (or Annual Rent) being charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis

Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):
- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial etc
- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Service Charges greater than 1% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Anything else appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary

Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):
- Unexpired lease term greater than or equal to 125 years on a new build flat or greater than or equal to 250 years on a new build house
- A lease subject to a peppercorn Ground Rent (Annual Rent) charges

For the avoidance of doubt, any New Build properties completed but not sold pre-30 June 2022 will only be acceptable if the Lease conforms to the above guidance.

* Where the Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building, please provide the following:
- How is the value of the block/unit currently calculated and if the assessment relates to the block(s), how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned per property?
- The current valuation and Ground Rent for each unit
- What is the mechanism for future valuations of the block and how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned?
- What is the right of appeal? And is this a documented process within the lease?
- Who bears the cost of the valuation (and appeal) process?
- Confirmation the review period is not less than twenty years.

Lease Extensions

We require all Lease Extensions to be completed under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 and to meet the above criteria as a minimum. Where you become aware that it does not meet these requirements, please refer to Issuing Office.

Please ensure that all lender enquiries are submitted (with full documentation/requirements) at least 2 weeks prior to exchange to allow sufficient time for review and decisioning.

My uncle has suggested that I instruct his conveyancing solicitors in Temple Fortune. Should I use them?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Temple Fortune conveyancing lawyer the ideal way to choose a conveyancing practitioner is to get recommendations from friends or relatives who have actually used the solicitor that you are considering.

I've recently bought a leasehold property in Temple Fortune. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

I am the leaseholder of a first flat in Temple Fortune. Given that I can not reach agreement with the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the premium due for the purchase of the freehold?

You certainly can. We can put you in touch with a Temple Fortune conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Temple Fortune 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 remaining number of years on the lease was 76 years.

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Residential Landlord and Tenant Conveyancing solicitors in Temple Fortune

The list below is a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Temple Fortune practicing in landlord and tenant law and on the regulations governing different types of tenancies. This will likely include advice on Service charge disputes

  • Mhhp Law Llp, 64-66 High Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 5SJ
  • Derrick Bridges & Co, 12 Wood Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 4BQ
  • Boyes Sutton & Perry Solicitors Ltd, 20 Wood Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 4BJ
  • Enfield Family Law Ltd, Unit 6 Beauchamp Court, 10 Victors Way, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5TZ
  • Frederick Rine Solicitors, Hadley House, 17 Park Road, High Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 5RY

Commercial Conveyancing solicitors in Temple Fortune regulated by the SRA

The firms listed below are a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Temple Fortune practicing in commercial conveyancing in Temple Fortune. This could include advice on complex issues under the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1954
  • Mhhp Law Llp, 64-66 High Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 5SJ
  • Derrick Bridges & Co, 12 Wood Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 4BQ
  • Boyes Sutton & Perry Solicitors Ltd, 20 Wood Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 4BJ
  • Male & Wagland(inc Marks & Co), 69 High Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 5UR
  • Mordi & Co, Ground Floor Rear, 143 High Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 5UZ

Planning law solicitors in Temple Fortune regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

The solicitors listed below are a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Temple Fortune specialising in planning law. The solicitors can give expert legal advice on all aspects of planning, including development on contaminated land
  • Barnett Alexander Conway Ingram Llp, Sovereign House, 1 Albert Place, Ballards Lane, London, N3 1QB
  • Moerans, 123 Station Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7JR
  • Vanderpump & Sykes Llp, Lough Point, 2 Gladbeck Way, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 7JA
  • Yugin & Partners, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4RY
  • Ellistons Slp Solicitors Limited, 51-53 The Broadway, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4DJ

*Source acknowledgement: House price data produced by Land Registry as well data supplied by Lexsure Ltd.

© Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of Land Registry under delegated authority from the Controller of HMSO.