It is a dozen years since I acquired my property in Winterbourne. Conveyancing lawyers have now been retained on the sale but I can't locate the deeds. Is this a major issue?
You need not be too concerned. First there is a chance that the deeds will be kept by your mortgage company or they may still be with the lawyers who handled your purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the property will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing lawyers procuring up to date copy of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Winterbourne involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is not registered it is more tricky but is resolvable.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Winterbourne. My lender is Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide Building Society have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 5/1/2026, the requirements read as follows :
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified during conveyancing in Winterbourne?
Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Winterbourne. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and found one close by in Winterbourne I like with a park and transport links nearby, however it only has 52 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Winterbourne for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?
If you require a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term may be an issue. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current owner has owned the property for at least 2 years you may request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this matter.
I am selling my property. My previous solicitors have shut. It would be helpful to have a recommendation of a conveyancing firm. Im based in Winterbourne if that affects matters.
You should use our search tool to help you choose a solicitor for your conveyancing in Winterbourne. We have connected thousands of home buyers and sellers with lender approved solicitors to ensure that the legalities of their house move runs smoothly.
What are the common deficiencies that you come across in leases for Winterbourne properties?
Leasehold conveyancing in Winterbourne is not unique. Most leases are individual and drafting errors can result in certain sections are wrong. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:
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Maintenance charge proportions which don’t add up to the correct percentage A duty to insure the building
A defective lease will likely cause problems when trying to sell a property primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. HSBC Bank, Coventry Building Society, and Alliance & Leicester all have express conveyancing instructions when it comes to what is expected in a lease. Where a lender has been advised by their lawyers that the lease is defective they may refuse to grant the mortgage, forcing the purchaser to withdraw.
Winterbourne Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries before buying
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What is the length of the lease? This question is useful as a) areas could result in problems in the building as the common areas may begin to deteriorate where maintenance are not paid for b) if the leaseholders have an issue with the running of the building you will wish to know about it It is important to be aware if redecorating or some other major work is anticipated that will be shared amongst the tenants and will materially impact the level of the maintenance charges or necessitate a one time payment.