I purchased a freehold house in Brentford yet pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Brentford and has limited impact for conveyancing in Brentford but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the creation of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.

Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 is to be extinguished.

My aunt passed away last year and as sole heir and executor I was left the property in Brentford. The house had a relatively small loan remaining of approximately £4500. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to , pay off the mortgage. Is this possible?

Given you intend to refinance then will insist on your using a conveyancer on the conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.

Do I need to take out insurance to protect me from financial exposure to chancel repairs when acquiring a residence in Brentford?

Unless a prior purchase of the premises took place after 12 October 2013 you can assume that lawyers delivering conveyancing in Brentford to remain encouraging a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.

Me and my brother have a renovated Edwardian house in Brentford. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and . I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You need to review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Brentford and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also check the situation with the conveyancing practitioner who carried out the work.

I am buying a new build apartment in Brentford. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Set out below is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Brentford

Please supply a car parking plan. The Vendor must covenant to keep unsold units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Please confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared.