I note that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Do I require this when acquiring a residence in Kentish Town? or Apparently there is a law dating back centuries that means some owners of property residing in a parish church boundary may be liable to contribute towards maintenance to the chancel within the church. Is this relevant for conveyancing in Kentish Town?

Unless a prior purchase of the property completed after 12 October 2013 you can take it that lawyers handling conveyancing in Kentish Town to continue to suggest a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

How does conveyancing in Kentish Town differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Kentish Town contact us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is completed. This is because builders in Kentish Town typically purchase the real estate, 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 Kentish Town or who has acted in the same development.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on last month in what should have been a quick, no chain conveyancing. Kentish Town is where the house is located. What do you suggest?

Flying freeholds in Kentish Town are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Kentish Town you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Kentish Town may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.

How do I use the search facility to select a conveyancing practitioner in Kentish Town on the approved list for my lender?

Step one is to select a mortgage company such as Accord Mortgages Ltd, Virgin Money or Alliance & Leicester then specify your preferred area a common one being Kentish Town. Conveyancing organisations in Kentish Town and across England and Wales should be listed.

I’m about to sell my garden apartment in Kentish Town. Conveyancing has not commenced, however I have recently had a yearly service charge invoice – Do I pay up?

It best that you pay the service charge as you normally would given that all ground rent and maintenance charges should be allotted on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

I am the proprietor of a ground-floor 1950’s flat in Kentish Town. Given that I can not reach agreement with the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the sum due for the purchase of the freehold?

Where there is a missing freeholder or if there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to decide the sum to be paid.

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Kentish Town residence is Flat 2 27 Mackeson Road in December 2012. The Tribunal assessed the value of the lease extension premium at £35,435 and rounded the figure to £35,500 This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired term was 64.77 years.