I have justbecome aware that Wolstenholmes have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Finchley for a purchase of a leasehold apartment 10 months ago. How can I check that the property is not still registered in the name of the former proprietor?

The easiest way to check if the property is registered to you, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Finchley conveyancing specialists.

How does conveyancing in Finchley differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Finchley come to us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is finished. This is because house builders in Finchley tend to 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 property lawyers 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 Finchley or who has acted in the same development.

I have been advised by numerous selling agents in Finchley to select a conveyancer using your seach tool. Is there a financial advantage for Estate Agents to recommend your lawyers ahead of a competitor’s?

We refuse to make any referral fee for directing people to this site. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission because members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

We're novice buyers - had an offer accepted, but the estate agent has warned us that the owners will only move forward if we instruct their recommended lawyers as they want an ‘expedited deal’. Our preferred option is to instruct a family conveyancer with experience of conveyancing in Finchley

It is highly unlikely the vendors are behind this. Should the owner desire ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a motivated buyer is going to damage their objectives. Speak to the vendors direct and explain that (a)you are motivated purchasers (b)you are ready to progress, with mortgage lined up © you are chain free (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you intend to use your own,trusted Finchley conveyancing solicitors - not the ones that will provide the negotiator at the agency a introducer fee or meet his conveyancing thresholds demanded by head office.

Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Finchley. Before diving in I would like to find out the remaining lease term.

If the lease is registered - and 99.9% are in Finchley - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title. For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

Notwithstanding our best efforts, we have been unsuccessful in trying to purchase the freehold in Finchley. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

in cases where there is a absentee landlord or if there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the relevant statutes you can apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to determine the premium.

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Finchley property is Ground Floor 110 Station Road in June 2013. The Tribunal found that the premium payable for a lease extension should be £31,665. This case related to 1 flat. The remaining number of years on the lease was 56.65 years.