My partner’s sister is a property lawyer. I anticipate that I can be offered preferential fee for conveyancing, but if not, what level of figure should I be expecting for conveyancing in Belsize Park?
It’s advisable to request two or three conveyancing estimates. Do use our search tool on this site. The fees seem to vary but the service one can expect are distinct between law firms as is true with most professions.
I own a freehold residence in Belsize Park yet charged rent, why is this and what is this?
It’s unusual for properties in Belsize Park and has limited impact for conveyancing in Belsize Park 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 creation of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.
Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be dispensed with completely.
Do I find a Licenced Conveyancer or Solicitor for conveyancing in Belsize Park?
There are two types of lawyers who can execute conveyancing in Belsize Park namely licenced conveyancers or solicitors. Both professionals administer the legal services that you need to complete the sale or acquisition of property. Both are duty bound to execute Belsize Park conveyancing on similar quality and guidelines so you may be sure that your conveyancing will be professionally conducted and that all requisite steps will be suitably adhered to.
I am due to exchange contracts on my apartment. I had a double glazing fitted in June 2010, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My buyer's mortgage company, Kent Reliance are being difficult. The Belsize Park solicitor who is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel is recommending indemnity insurance as a solution but Kent Reliance are insisting on a building regulation certificate. Why do Kent Reliance have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?
It is probably the case that Kent Reliance have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Kent Reliance 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 offer was accepted on an apartment in Belsize Park on 25/3/2026, valuation was booked 4 days after, received a clean bill of health. Property lawyer retained, so the only thing outstanding was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Kent Reliance and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. Are Kent Reliance entitled to hold back the Mortgage pending the lawyer being on the approved list?
Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Kent Reliance to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
I purchased a semi-detached Georgian property in Belsize Park. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Leeds Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the matching property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You should assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Belsize Park and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also check the position with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the purchase.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a simple, chain free conveyancing. Belsize Park is the location of the property. Is there any advice you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Belsize Park are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Belsize Park you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Belsize Park may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.
I was recommended by two or three local estate agents in Belsize Park to select a solicitor using your seach tool. What’s the financial inducement for Estate Agents to market your lawyers rather than another?
We refuse to offer any referral fee for pointing buyers and sellers our way. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission because home movers will think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.