I have given 8 weeks notice to my current landlord and must leave my rented flat in Westminster by 9/1/2026. Conveyancing for my house purchase is progressing. Is it possible to complete in 5 weeks as don't want to have to move into short term accommodation?
It is unwise to give notice on a rental until your lawyer suggests that you should. Assuming that you have not already done so, notify to your lawyer and ask them to they cajole the owners side, try to an agreed time frame that all parties will work to achieve
In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Westminster? What am I being asked for?
Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering regulations require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the identity of the potential client they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing retainer. The Terms and Conditions that you are required to sign will no doubt stipulate this. Your lender will also require certain documents to be checked. Where you are unwilling to hand over identification documents, your conveyancer will not be able to take you on as a client.
Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to my home are lost. The lawyers who handled the conveyancing in Westminster 5 years ago no longer exist. Will I be able to sell the house?
In today’s world there are duplicates made of almost everything, and your conveyancer will be aware precisely where to find all the appropriate paperwork so you can purchase or dispose of your house without a hitch. If copies can’t be located, your lawyer may be able to arrange cover in the form of insurance or indemnities protecting you against possible claims on your property.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Westminster is where the house is located. What do you suggest?
Flying freeholds in Westminster are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Westminster you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Westminster 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.
Taking into account that I will soon spend 450k on a property in Westminster I wish to have a conversation with the solicitor concerning thetransaction in advance of giving the go ahead to the firm. Can this be arranged?
This is something that we recommend - we would be happy to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the lawyer due to be doing your conveyancing in Westminster.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - every client is unique individual, not a case number. The solicitors that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are quoted for residential conveyancing in Westminster should be the figure that you are charged.
I have recently realised that I have 68 years remaining on my flat in Westminster. I now want to extend my lease but my landlord is can not be found. What options are available to me?
On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the magistrate. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to locate the landlord. For most situations an enquiry agent should be useful to conduct investigations and to produce a report which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the landlord can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a solicitor in relation to investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court covering Westminster.
Having spent months of dialogue we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Westminster. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?
in cases where there is a missing freeholder or if 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 decide the amount due.
An example of a Lease Extension case for a Westminster premises 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 unexpired term as at the valuation date was 56 years.