As someone clueless as to the Woodford Green conveyancing process what’s your top tip you can impart for the house moving process in Woodford Green
You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Woodford Green or throughout Essex is often a confrontational process. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there exists an abundance of room for confrontation between you and others involved in the ownership transfer. E.g., the seller, property agent and even potentially the mortgage company. Selecting a lawyer for your conveyancing in Woodford Green is a critical decision as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the SOLE person in the transaction whose interest is to look after your best interests and to keep you safe.
There is a worrying ongoing adversarial element to conveyancing- someone has to be at fault for the process being so protracted. You your first instinct should be to trust your lawyer above the other players in the home moving process.
My husband and I are hoping to buy a purpose built flat in Woodford Green with a homeloan from Aldermore.We have a Woodford Green conveyancing solicitor but Aldermore advised that her practice is not on their "panel". It seems we are left with no choice but to instruct a Aldermore panel firm or retain our preferred solicitor and fork out for a Aldermore panel lawyer to act for them. We feel as though this is unjust; Can we not simply insist that Aldermore use our lawyer?
No, not really. The mortgage issued to you contains terms and conditions, one of which will be that solicitors will be on the Aldermore solicitor panel. Until recently, most mortgage companies had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower could find 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 lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Aldermore
I have been told by my lawyer that defective lease insurance is required on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in Woodford Green?
The right level of defective lease indemnity insurance depends on your lender. It would differ for example between Nationwide Building Society and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. Conveyancing solicitors as opposed to members of the public take out such insurances.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Woodford Green. I have a mortgage offer with UBS. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with UBS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the UBS conveyancing panel.
I had an offer accepted on a house in Woodford Green on 11/6/2025, valuation was booked 2 days later, received a clean bill of health. Conveyancer retained, so all that was missing was my mortgage offer. Having made daily calls to Aldermore and chasing them on my offer, I have now been told that my offer will not be issued unless the lawyer is on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. Can the lender hold off the offer?
A lender would not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Aldermore to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Aldermore conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
I require expedited conveyancing in Woodford Green as I have pressure to exchange contracts in less than 2 weeks. A home loan is not required. Is it possible to escape the need for conveyancing searches to save money and time?
As you are not obtaining a mortgage you have the choice not to have searches conducted although no law firm would recommend that you don't. Drawing on years of experience of conveyancing in Woodford Green the following are examples of what can arise and adversely affect market value: Refused Planning Applications, Outstanding Charges, Overdue Grants, Railway Schemes,...
I have been on the look out for a flat up to £235,500 and found one round the corner in Woodford Green I like with open areas and railway links nearby, however it's only got 52 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Woodford Green for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?
If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease will likely be problematic. Discount the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the premises for at least twenty four months you could ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.
I only have 62 years unexpired on my lease in Woodford Green. I am keen to get lease extension 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 apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be lengthened by the magistrate. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you have made all reasonable attempts to track down the landlord. For most situations an enquiry agent may be helpful to conduct investigations and prepare an expert document which can be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a conveyancer in relation to proving the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Woodford Green.
I have attempted and failed to negotiate with my landlord for a lease extension without any joy. Can I apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a Woodford Green conveyancing firm to help?
in cases where there is a absentee landlord 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 LVT to determine the sum to be paid.
An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Woodford Green property is 201 & 201a St. Barnabas Road in October 2013. The Tribunal decided that the price to be paid by the Applicants for the freehold interest is £20,071. This case related to 2 flats. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 69.26 years.