Find a Lender-Approved Local Conveyancer in Walderslade

Ready to buy a new home? Find a law firm approved by your lender.

Follow your intuition—you will have a better home move where you instruct a local solicitor in Walderslade

Top reasons to let us assist you find a local conveyancing solicitor in Walderslade

  • 1 The mark of a good conveyancing solicitor in Walderslade is quality not quantity. The level of service offered by conveyancing "factories" (sometimes 'recommended' by national chain estate agents) often falls short of the high standards of professionalism you will expect.
  • 2 The accumulation of transactions means that Walderslade conveyancer have developed valuable working relationships with Walderslade local estate agents, banks, building societies, landlords and house builders enabling them to liaise at speed with all concerned in the process of handling your home move in Walderslade.
  • 3 Walderslade solicitors have a significant edge when it comes to Walderslade conveyancing as they have important local knowledge of local authority requirements, planning policies and other matters that will affect your home move
  • 4 Walderslade property lawyer are the linchpin to a successful Walderslade home move, keeping the process under control. They are on your side throughout, offering dedicated advice for the duration of your transaction
  • 5 Our site offers largest domestic conveyancing directory service identifying lender approved law practices carrying out conveyancing in Walderslade registered with the SRA or CLC.

Examples of recent conveyancing in Walderslade since June 2023*

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in Walderslade

My husband and I are planning to acquire a 1 bedroom flat in Walderslade with a mortgage. We would like to retain our Walderslade lawyer, however the bank says he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the mortgage company panel solicitors or keep our Walderslade conveyancing practitioner as well as pay for one of their panel lawyers to act for them. This feels very unfair; is there anything we can do?

No, not really. Your mortgage offer is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your Walderslade conveyancing solicitor to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.

I am about to put a bid on a leasehold flat in Walderslade. The selling agents tell me that it is the norm for flats in Walderslade to have less than 75 years remaining. I am getting a loan with The Mortgage Works. Is this going to be acceptable if the lease has 69 years left.

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. The Mortgage Works have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 30/9/2023 the requirements read as follows :

Minimum unexpired lease term is 70 years with 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
Where the unexpired lease term is different to that recorded on the mortgage offer, the following clarifies if we need to be informed:

Second hand property:
- If the unexpired lease term on the offer is 85 years or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 85 years
- if the unexpired lease term on the offer is less than 85 years – advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported
- For equity share applications - advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer

New build property:
- If the unexpired lease term stated on the offer is 125 years (flat) / 250 years (house) or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 125 years (flat) / 250 years (house)
- For equity share applications - always advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer

Lease terms such as ground rent and event fees must be reasonable at all times during the term of the lease and adhere to our requirements below. If you’re unsure as to whether the terms of a lease are unreasonable or onerous, please refer the details to us in plain English for Valuer consideration. If the potentially onerous terms are in relation to the ground rent please include the current ground rent figure per annum, how often it will be reviewed and the price structure it will be reviewed against. See the guidance below.

SECOND HAND PROPERTIES

Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (Will be declined):
- Unexpired lease term less than 70 years
- Less than 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term
- Ground Rent greater than 0.5% of the property value
- Ground Rent doubles less than every 20 years (e.g. doubles every 5, 10 or 15 years) - acceptable if doubles every 20 years or more
- Ground Rent is compounded RPI
- Ground Rent review period less than or equal to 5 years

Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):
- Unexpired lease term is 70 to 85 years
- Ground Rent greater than 0.1% and less than or equal to 0.5% of the property value
- Ground Rent escalation is linked to any indices greater than RPI
- Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building*
- Ground Rent review period is greater than 5 and less than 10 years
- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial etc
- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Service Charges greater than 0.5% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Anything that appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary

Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):
- Unexpired lease term greater than 85 years
- Ground Rent less than or equal to 0.1% of the property value
- Ground Rent review period greater than or equal to 10 years
- Ground Rent escalation less than or equal to RPI

NEW BUILD PROPERTIES (includes office conversions)

Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (will be declined):
- Unexpired lease term less than 125 years on a new build flat or less than 250 years on a new build house
- Any lease which is subject to a ground rent (or annual rent) being charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis
- Any lease which is subject to a ground rent (or annual rent) being reviewed and altered on any review basis or methodology

Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):
- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial etc
- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Service Charges greater than 0.5% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Anything else appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary

Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):
- Unexpired lease term greater than or equal to 125 years on a new build flat or greater than or equal to 250 years on a new build house
- A lease subject to a peppercorn ground rent (annual rent) charges

For the avoidance of doubt, any new build properties completed but not sold pre 30 June 2022 will only be acceptable if the lease conforms to the above guidance

* Where the Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building, please provide the following:
- How is the value of the block/unit currently calculated and if the assessment relates to the block(s), how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned per property?
- The current valuation and Ground Rent for each unit
- What is the mechanism for future valuations of the block and how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned?
- What is the right of appeal? And is this a documented process within the lease?
- Who bears the cost of the valuation (and appeal) process?
- Confirmation the review period is not less than twenty years

LEASE EXTENSIONS

We require all lease extensions to be completed under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 and to meet the above criteria as a minimum. Where you become aware that it does not meet these requirements, please refer to the Issuing Office

I have todaydiscovered that Stirling Law have been shut down. They carried out my conveyancing in Walderslade for a purchase of a freehold house 9 months ago. How can I establish that the property is in my name in the name of the former proprietor?

The easiest method to see if the property is registered to you, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Walderslade conveyancing specialists.

Due to the encouragement of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Walderslade in advance of appointing conveyancers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold element to the property. The surveyor has said that some lenders will refuse to grant a mortgage on this type of property.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different instructions for example to Birmingham Midshires. Should you wish to call us we can look into this further with the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Walderslade. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Walderslade especially if they are familiar with such properties in Walderslade.

Am I best advised to go with a Walderslade conveyancing practitioner who is local to the property I am buying? An old friend can carry out the legal formalities however his firm is located over three hundred kilometers away.

The benefit of a local Walderslade conveyancing firm is that you can pop in to sign paperwork, hand in your identification documents and pester them where appropriate. They will also have local insight which is a bonus. However it's more important to get someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If you know people who instructed your friend and they were impressed that must outweigh using an unfamiliar Walderslade conveyancing lawyer just because they are based in the area.

Why do Walderslade conveyancing costs differ for leasehold and freehold properties?

Leasehold conveyancing in Walderslade more often than not will involve additional work including reviewing the lease, liaising with the landlord, obtaining up to date rent receipts, landlord’s consents, management company’s accounts etc.

Last updated

Sample of conveyancing solicitors in Walderslade regulated by the SRA

It is important to note that the listed firms do not limit their work for conveyancing in Walderslade but also conveyancing throughout England and Wales.

  • Stephens & Son Llp, Rome House, 41 Railway Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4RP
  • V. E. White & Co. Ltd, 10 Parkwood Green, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 9PN
  • Winch & Winch, 5 New Road Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6AR
  • Hawkridge & Company Llp, 39 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5TR
  • Bassets, 156 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1ET

Commercial Conveyancing solicitors in Walderslade regulated by the SRA

The list below is a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Walderslade specialising in commercial conveyancing in Walderslade. This will likely include advice on commercial leases including all matters relating to landlord and tenant law
  • Stephens & Son Llp, Rome House, 41 Railway Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4RP
  • J N Jones Solicitors, 1 Cambridge Terrace, Cambridge House Business Centre, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4RG
  • V. E. White & Co. Ltd, 10 Parkwood Green, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 9PN
  • Winch & Winch, 5 New Road Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6AR
  • The Kingsley Smith Trustee Company, 81 High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4EE

Residential Licensed Conveyancers in Walderslade regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers

Please note that the listed conveyancers do not limit their work for conveyancing in Walderslade but also conveyancing across England and Wales.
  • Raymond Beer & Co Ltd, 16 Manor Road, ME4 6AG
  • Andrew Lee & Co, 93-95 High Street, ME14 1SA
  • Homden Property Lawyers, 26 Sharfleet Drive, ME2 2UA

*Source acknowledgement: House price data produced by Land Registry as well data supplied by Lexsure Ltd.

© Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of Land Registry under delegated authority from the Controller of HMSO.