We note that you have a search directory listing solicitors on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for our own conveyancing in Byfleet?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Byfleet.
About to place a bid on a leasehold apartment in Byfleet. The property agents advise that it is normal for flats in Byfleet to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am taking out a mortgage with Virgin. Is this going to be acceptable if the lease has Seventy One years remaining.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing 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 26/7/2025 the requirements read as follows :
My conveyancer has informed me that lack of right of way insurance is necessary on my purchase. What is the level of cover for Byfleet conveyancing?
The right level of lack of right of way indemnity insurance should be dictated by who who your lender is. It would differ for example between Yorkshire Building Society and Leeds Building Society. Conveyancing solicitors as opposed to members of the public take out such policies.
I am purchasing a property in Byfleet. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Santander be concerned?
As your lender is Santander your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing instructions set out in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Santander. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Santander where a lease fails to meet these conditions. The conditions relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not isolated to Byfleet.
Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Byfleet. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Services Team at head office. In most cases complaints to a lender are resolved effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR who will take matters further.
I'm purchasing my first flat in Byfleet benefiting from help to buy. The builders would not budge the amount so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The house builders rep suggested that I not to tell my solicitor about this side-deal as it will jeopardize my loan with the lender. Should I keep quiet?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in last month in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. Byfleet is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?
Flying freeholds in Byfleet are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Byfleet you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Byfleet may ascertain 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've recently bought a leasehold flat in Byfleet. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?
In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner 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 ensure 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).
Byfleet Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries before Purchasing
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It is important to be aware if fixing the lift or some other significant cost is coming up that will be shared by the leaseholders and will materially impact the level of the service fees or necessitate a one time payment. This information is helpful as a) areas can cause problems for the building as the common areas may start to deteriorate where maintenance are not paid for b) if the leaseholders have a dispute with the running of the building you will need to know about it For many Byfleet leaseholds the outlay for major works are not included within service charges, although there some managing agents in Byfleet obliged leasehold owners to pay into a reserve fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for larger works.