We were just about to exchange contracts for a freehold house in Halewood. We encountered a stumbling block. Our loan offer with Aldermore runs out on 17/11/2025 but the vendors are insisting on a completion date of 19/11/2025. Can one prolong the mortgage offer?

The person best placed to address this question is your conveyancer who will calculate whether they better off negotiating with the mortgage company, vendor’s representatives, estate agents or possibly all parties based on the history of your transaction to date.

I am looking for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and found one near me in Halewood I like with amenity areas and railway links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 51 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Halewood in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a mortgage that many years will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least twenty four months you could 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 consult your conveyancing lawyer regarding this.

What does commercial conveyancing in Halewood cover?

Halewood conveyancing for business premises incorporates a wide range of guidance, supplied by qualified solicitors, relating to business premises. By way of example, this type of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more usually, the transfer of existing leases or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial loans and the termination of leases.

Are there frequently found defects that you see in leases for Halewood properties?

There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in Halewood. Most leases are unique and legal mistakes in the legal wording can sometimes mean that certain sections are missing. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

Service charge per centages that don't add up correctly leaving a shortfall

A defective lease can cause problems when trying to sell a property primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. Accord Mortgages Ltd, Skipton Building Society, and Bank of Ireland all have express requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease is defective they may refuse to grant the mortgage, obliging the purchaser to withdraw.

I am the registered owner of a studio flat in Halewood, conveyancing was carried out in 1999. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Similar flats in Halewood with an extended lease are worth £201,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 charged once a year. The lease expires on 21st October 2090

With only 65 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £13,300 and £15,400 as well as costs.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure without more comprehensive investigations. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first getting professional advice.

My work colleague mentioned that before selecting a conveyancing lawyer they need approved by your lender. It happens to be my first house move but I have an offer in principle via Halifax and I already have a bricks and morter conveyancing lawyer in Halewood in place. Will Halifax need an approved lawyer to be used? If so, where can I find that list so I can pick a conveyancing lawyer in Halewood?

You need to use a solicitor that is on the Halifax panel. The first thing to do is call your preferred Halewood conveyancing lawyer and ask if they are on the Halifax panel. If they are not approved you have a couple of alternatives open to you here:

• Carry on with your chosen Halewood solicitor but Halifax will no doubt instruct a conveyancing practitioner from their conveyancing panel. The net impact is additional fees and potential interruption.
• Choose a new property lawyer to act in the purchase, obviously checking they are on the Halifax conveyancing panel.
• Convince your solicitor to do everything within their powers to join the Halifax panel of solicitors.