I am need of leasehold conveyancing for an apartment in a relatively new development (five years built) in Croydon. 95% of the properties are already sold. Do I need carry out the neighbourhood searches as part of conveyancing in Croydon?
You would be taking a significant risk in refusing to carrying out Croydon conveyancing searches. Without searches you have no clarity over flooding, environmental etc which may mean you walk away due to potential problems down the line. If you are buying without a mortgage there is no legal requirement to have them, but we would absolutely advise in no uncertain terms that your lawyer conducts them. If time pressures and expenses are primary issues you should discuss with your lawyer about the options such as indemnity insurance available to you
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in Croydon. My lender is Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 6/11/2025, the requirements read as follows :
A relative informed me that in purchasing a property in Croydon there may be a number of restrictions preventing external alterations to the property. Is this right?
We are aware of a number of properties in Croydon which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Croydon should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
My solicitor has informed me that defective lease insurance is necessary on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in Croydon?
The right level of defective lease indemnity insurance should be dictated by who who your lender is. It would differ for example between Santander and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. Conveyancing practitioners as opposed to borrowers take out such insurances.
is it true that all Croydon conveyancing solicitors on the Co-operative conveyancing panel are governed by the SRA?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Co-operative approved list of solicitors they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. The majority of lenders do list licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be overseen by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £305k and found one round the corner in Croydon I like with a park and railway links nearby, the downside is that it only has 49 years on the lease. There is not much else in Croydon suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?
Should you require a home loan that many years will likely be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for at least 2 years you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor concerning this.
My uncle has suggested that I use his conveyancers in Croydon. Should I choose my own conveyancer?
No doubt the ideal way to find a conveyancing lawyer is to get guidance from friends or family who have previously instructed the firm you're contemplating using.
Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Croydon with the intention of saving time on the sale process?
- A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Croydon can be avoided where you appoint lawyers as soon as your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the buyers’ lawyers. If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should make sure that you have the original share certificate. Obtaining a re-issued share certificate is often a lengthy formality and frustrates many a Croydon conveyancing deal. Where a duplicate share certificate is required, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (if relevant) for this as soon as possible. Some Croydon leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, it would be prudent to place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet 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 buyers or their lawyers. If you have carried out any alterations to the property would they have required Landlord’s consent? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Croydon state that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. Where you fail to have the paperwork in place do not communicate with the landlord without contacting your solicitor in the first instance.
I am the registered owner of a ground flat in Croydon. Given that I can not reach agreement with the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the amount payable for a lease extension?
Where there is a missing freeholder or where there is dispute about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to assess the amount due.
An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Croydon premises is 29 Woodstock Road in April 2014. the Tribunal determined that the premiums to be paid into court in respect of the purchase of the freehold registered at HMLR under Title N0.SY3997 should be £7,217. This case affected 4 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 98 years.