Our son-in-law is about to exchange on a new build apartment in Pimlico with a mortgage from Kent Reliance. His lawyer has said that there is a delay in completing the ‘Disclosure of Incentive Form’. What is this document - I have never come across this before?
The document is intended to provide information to the main parties engaged in the transaction. Therefore, it will be provided to your son’s lawyer who should be on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel as a standard part of the process, and to the surveyor when asked. The developer will be required to start the process by downloading the form and completing it. The form will therefore need to be available for the valuer at the time of his or her site visit. The form should be sent to the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel solicitor as early as possible, in order to avoid any last minute delays, and no later than at exchange of contracts.
I am about to put a bid on a leasehold property in Pimlico. The property agents say that it is the norm for flats in Pimlico to have less than 75 years left on the lease. I am getting a mortgage with Platform. Is this going to be a problem if the lease has 72 years to go.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 27/4/2026 the requirements read as follows :
Have just purchased a probate house at auction in Pimlico. Conveyancing is necessary. What happens now?
Having to in every practical sense signed on the dotted line you should retain a conveyancing lawyer quickly as you now have a tight deadline in which to complete the transaction. All auction property will have an associated auction set of papers. This should include evidence of title and search results. Where you are dealing with leasehold premises the legal pack may provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing paperwork specific to a leasehold property. You need to pass this on to the lawyer working for you as soon as possible. Do make sure that you have funds organised to complete the transaction on the set completion date.
I am being advised by my solicitor that absentee landlord insurance is required on my purchase. What is the level of cover for Pimlico conveyancing?
The right level of absentee landlord indemnity insurance depends on your lender. It would differ for example between Yorkshire Building Society and Chelsea Building Society. Conveyancing lawyers as opposed to borrowers take out such insurances.
Can you point me to a directory of Lloyds panel solicitors in Pimlico on the Council of Mortgage Lender’s Website?
No. There is no such directory service on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association sites. Very few lending institutions make their panel listings available over the internet. Where you are looking for a Pimlico lawyer on the Lloyds please make the most of our facility.
A colleague recommended that if I am purchasing in Pimlico I should ask my conveyancer to execute a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?
This is a search is usually included in the estimate for your Pimlico conveyancing searches. It is not a small document of about 40 pages, listing and detailing significant information about Pimlico around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime details, Pimlico Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data regarding Pimlico.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on last month in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Pimlico is the location of the property. Is there any guidance you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Pimlico are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Pimlico you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Pimlico may determine 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.
Last November I purchased a leasehold house in Pimlico. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before my ownership?
In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee 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).
I am the proprietor of a basement flat in Pimlico. Given that I can not reach agreement with the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the premium payable for a lease extension?
Where there is a absentee freeholder or if there is dispute about the premium for a lease extension, under the relevant legislation you can apply to the LVT to calculate the price payable.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Pimlico property is Flats 12A & 19, Evelyn Mansions Carlisle Place in June 2009. The Tribunal held that the price to be paid for the new lease of Flat 12A is £168,824, For the other flat the price was set at £169,110 This case affected 2 flats. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 56 years.