I have given 2 months notice to my current landlord and must vacate my rented apartment in Edmonton by 3/9/2025. Conveyancing for my house purchase has just started. How realistic is it to complete in 5 weeks as I wish to avoid having to find temporary accommodation?

It is unwise to serve notice for your lease until you have exchanged. If you have not already done so, contact to your solicitor and request that they apply pressure on the other solicitors, try to get a realistic time scale from them that everyone will look towards

How does conveyancing in Edmonton differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Edmonton contact us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is constructed. This is because new home sellers in Edmonton usually purchase the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Edmonton or who has acted in the same development.

I am looking for a flat up to £235,500 and identified one round the corner in Edmonton I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 51 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Edmonton in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a lease with such few years left?

If you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the premises for a minimum of twenty four months you can ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.

If all goes to plan we aim to complete the sale of our £250,000 maisonette in Edmonton in just under a week. The managing agents has quoted £300 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and previous years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Edmonton?

Edmonton conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes more often than not necessitates the buyer’s lawyer sending enquiries for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address these enquiries the majority will be content to do so. They may invoice a reasonable charge for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average costs for the information that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some situations it is above £800. The management information fee demanded by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of rights and obligations in respect of administration fees, without which the charge is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that you have little option but to pay whatever is demanded should you wish to complete the sale of your home.

I am the registered owner of a ground-floor 1960’s flat in Edmonton. Given that I can not reach agreement with the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the sum due for the purchase of the freehold?

Absolutely. We can put you in touch with a Edmonton conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Vesting Order and Purchase of freehold matter before the tribunal for a Edmonton flat is Ground Floor Flat 4A Baronet Road in February 2010. Following a vesting order by Edmonton County Court on 23rd December 2008 (case number 8ED064) the Tribunal decided that the price that the Applicant for the freehold interest should pay is £8,689.00 This case related to 2 flats. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 80.01 years.

Why do Edmonton conveyancing charges are more expensive for leasehold and freehold properties?

Inevitably there is more work needed for leasehold conveyancing. Edmonton has many leasehold properties. There is more time involved in the purchase: for example, the lease and leasehold information (including up to date service charge, ground rent and buildings insurance details) obtained from the freeholder or managing agents. There are strict criteria that the lease must meet in order to be acceptable to a mortgage company. If it does not meet these requirements, the lease must be amended, which can involve additional expense for the seller.