We have very pushy sellers who has insisted on a exclusivity agreement with a payment of 5k. Is it wise to enter into such agreements?
Lock out agreements are contracts binding a home seller and prospective buyer granting the buyer exclusive rights to the sale of the premises for a certain period of time. Essentially, an exclusivity is a document stating that you should be issued with a contract at a later time which is the main conveyancing contract. It tends to be used for buyer protection though in some cases, the seller may enjoy an upside from such agreements as well. There are various positives and negatives to using them but you should to check with your lawyer but beware that it may result in incurring extra in conveyancing charges. For this these agreements are unusual in relation to conveyancing in West Bromwich.
About to place a bid on a leasehold apartment in West Bromwich. The estate agents tell me that it is the norm for flats in West Bromwich to have less than 75 years remaining. I am taking out a mortgage with Chelsea Building Society. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 70 years left.
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. Chelsea Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 8/5/2025 the requirements read as follows :
I used Wolstenholmes a few years ago for my conveyancing in West Bromwich. I now require my papers but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in West Bromwich of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and found one close by in West Bromwich I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 52 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in West Bromwich suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a lease with such few years left?
If you require a home loan that many years will be an issue. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the premises for at least twenty four months you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.
How does the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 impact my commercial offices in West Bromwich and how can your lawyers assist?
The particular law that you refer to gives protection to business lessees, giving them the right to make a request to court for a continuation of occupancy at the end of the lease term. There are limited grounds that a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complex. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing firms who use the act for protection and handle your commercial conveyancing in West Bromwich
Our property lawyer in West Bromwich has informed me that he requires personal identification documents saying that this forms part of his obligations as a conveyancer on the mortgage company Solicitor panel. This is news to me - can I refuse?
Due to Money Laundering Regulations your conveyancing lawyer is duty bound to confirm positively your identification when entering into a business relationship with you. It is a criminal offence if your lawyer not do this. If you do not provide ID early in the transaction the solicitor must refuse to act for you. It’s unlikely a lawyer will turn you away if you come to the first meeting without relevant ID but you will have to produce it at some point so you might as well bring it with you to the initial meeting so the lawyer can tick the ID verification box and start sorting out the conveyancing straight away. If you are getting a mortgage, your lawyer also has to check ID documents to satisfy the bank. This is not specific to conveyancing in West Bromwich