Me and my brother own a terraced Edwardian house in Solihull. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Platform Home Loans Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the matching address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Solihull and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also question the position with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the conveyancing.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one close by in Solihull I like with amenity areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 51 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Solihull in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?

If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease will be an issue. Discount the price by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the property for at least twenty four months you may ask them to start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

I am looking for a conveyancing lawyer in Solihull for my house move. Is there any facility to review a firm’s complaints history with the profession’s regulator?

Members of the public may see presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from inquisitions started on or after Jan 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find records about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's history, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For non-uk callers, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA sometimes monitor call for training purposes.

I work for a long established estate agency in Solihull where we have witnessed a few flat sales derailed due to short leases. I have been given conflicting advice from local Solihull conveyancing solicitors. Can you confirm whether the vendor of a flat can initiate the lease extension formalities for the buyer?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. The benefit of this is that the buyer need not have to sit tight for 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done before, or simultaneously with completion of the sale.

Alternatively, it may be possible to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the purchaser.

I inherited a basement flat in Solihull, conveyancing was carried out 3 years ago. How much will my lease extension cost? Corresponding flats in Solihull with an extended lease are worth £179,000. The ground rent is £65 levied per year. The lease runs out on 21st October 2082

With 57 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to range between £26,600 and £30,800 plus professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to provide the actual costs without more detailed due diligence. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other issues that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

We today found out that one of the partners of the law firm handling the purchase conveyancing in Solihull is an aunty of the seller. Is this permitted?

On the basis that no conflict arises this is allowable. If you are obtaining a home loan then the lender may have a say as many mortgage companies have specific requirements on this. For example for Chelsea Building Society as of 12/8/2025, the requirements read as follows :