Due to move into my new home in Clerkenwell next Friday. I have now been asked to send a copy of my building insurance schedule by my solicitor as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the mortgage company. What risks does the mortgage company expect the insurance to cover?
Any lawyer on acting for lenders would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s Part 2 conditions. These requirements are not unique to conveyancing in Clerkenwell.
I am the sole beneficiary of my late mum's estate and I have everything in my name now, including the house in Clerkenwell. The Clerkenwell property was put into my name in October. I want to move. I do know about the Mortgage Lenders six month 'rule', meaning my property ownership could be regarded the same way as though I had purchased the house in October. Will no one buy the property for half a year?
The CML handbook obliges solicitors to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." By the strict wording you might be impacted by that. Some banks would take a pragmatic view as this requirement is principally there to capture the purchase and immediately sell or the wholesaling and assigning of properties.
We have agreed to purchase a house in Clerkenwell. One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. RBS have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As your lender is RBS your lawyer must follow the conveyancing requirements contained in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for RBS. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook sets out minimum conditions for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancers are required to report to RBS where a lease fails to meet these requirements. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not isolated to Clerkenwell.
I'm at the point of looking at houses in Clerkenwell and I am about to put in an offer. Is it sensible to have a solicitor on ‘stand by’? I intend to finance via a home loan with Barclays.
It would be wise to instigate your search sooner rather than later. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their contact information on to the selling agent. As you are taking out a mortgage with Barclays, ask your prospective lawyers if they are on the Barclays conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
I have been told that property searches are the number one reason for hinderance in Clerkenwell conveyancing transactions. Is this right?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the determinations of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the top 10 causes of hindrances during the legal transfer of property. Searches are not likely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Clerkenwell.
I am buying a new build apartment in Clerkenwell. Conveyancing is daunting 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 conveyancing.
Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Clerkenwell
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The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal.
Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Clerkenwell ahead of instructing solicitors. I have been told that there is a flying freehold aspect to the property. The surveyor advised that some banks may refuse to issue a loan on a flying freehold house.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different requirements from Halifax. If you call us we can check with the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Clerkenwell. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Clerkenwell especially if they are acquainted with such properties in Clerkenwell.
Do you have any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Clerkenwell from the point of view of saving time on the sale process?
- Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Clerkenwell can be reduced if you get in touch lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation which will be required by the buyers’ conveyancers. Many landlords or Management Companies in Clerkenwell charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold home. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack can be applied for as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Clerkenwell. In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Clerkenwell leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring necessitate a licence issued by the Landlord approving such works. If you dont have the paperwork in place do not communicate with the landlord without contacting your solicitor first. Some Clerkenwell leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this is the case, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers. If you have had any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where there is a current dispute. You will have to accept that you will have to discharge any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as historic as opposed to ongoing.
I am the registered owner of a basement flat in Clerkenwell. Given that I can not reach agreement with the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the premium payable for a lease extension?
Where there is a missing landlord or where there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to arrive at the premium.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Clerkenwell property is Flat 89 Trinity Court Grays Inn Road in February 2013. the Tribunal found that the premium to be paid by the tenant on the grant of a new lease, in accordance with section 56 and Schedule 13 to the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 should be £36,229. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 66.8 years.
