We were just about to sign contracts for a freehold house in Westminster. We encountered a stumbling block. The mortgage offer with National Westminster Bank runs out on 17/3/2025 but the sellers are putting forward a completion date of 19/3/2025. Can one extend the mortgage offer?
The person best placed to deal with your issue is your solicitors who will determine if they better off negotiating with the mortgage company, vendor’s solicitors, selling agents or indeed all three taking into account the history of your house move to date.
Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to my house are lost. The solicitors who did the conveyancing in Westminster 4 years ago have long since closed. What do I do?
In today’s world there are duplicates made of almost everything, and your conveyancer will know exactly where to look for all the relevant documentation so you may purchase or sell your house without a hitch. If copies can’t be located, your solicitor can put in place insurance or indemnities against possible claims on the premises.
I am buying a new build apartment in Westminster. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.
Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Westminster
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Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared.
Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Westminster ahead of appointing solicitors. I have been told that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor advised that some banks may refuse to issue a mortgage on such a premises.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Birmingham Midshires. If you contact us we can check via the appropriate bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Westminster. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Westminster especially if they regularly deal with such properties in Westminster.
I am using a search engine for the term conveyancing in Westminster it brings up numerous conveyancerslocally. With so much choice what is the best way to find the suitable solicitor for my move?
The best method of seeking the right conveyancer is through a trusted referral, so enquire of colleagues and family who have bought a property in Westminster or the respected estate agent or mortgage broker. Fees for conveyancing in Westminster differ, so it's a good idea to request a minimum of three fee calculations from different solicitors. Make sure that you clarify what costs in the quote includes.
Is planning permission needed to split a single dwelling into a couple of appartments in Westminster? This has taken place to a house next door to my home in Westminster and was ignorant of the conversion until the works were done.
Planning permission is necessary for splitting a single dwelling in Westminster into apartments but possibly not for reverting once again to single dwelling-house so, in answer to your question, yes,a it is needed.