It is 10 years ago since I bought my home in Wanstead Flats. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been appointed on the sale but I am unable to track down the title documents. Is this a major issue?

You need not be too concerned. First the deeds may be with your mortgage company or they may still be with the solicitor who oversaw your purchase. Secondly the chances are that the land will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors procuring up to date copy of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Wanstead Flats relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your home is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is resolvable.

This question may be naive but I am new to the home buying as FTB of a garden flat in Wanstead Flats. Do I collect the keys to the property on completion from my solicitor? If so, I will appoint a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Wanstead Flats?

There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Conveyancing lawyers for you will electronically transfer the purchase money to the vendor’s solicitors, and once they have received this, you will be called to receive the keys from the property Agents and start moving into the property. This tends to happen early afternoon.

A colleague advised me that in buying a property in Wanstead Flats there may be a number of restrictions prohibiting external alterations to a property. Is this right?

We are aware of anumerous of properties in Wanstead Flats which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Wanstead Flats should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.

I am purchasing a property in Wanstead Flats. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Aldermore be concerned?

As your lender is Aldermore your lawyer must follow the conveyancing instructions contained in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Aldermore. The CML Handbook sets out minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and lawyers are required to report to Aldermore where a lease fails to meet these conditions. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not limited to Wanstead Flats.

Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Wanstead Flats in advance of retaining lawyers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold element to the property. Our surveyor advised that some mortgage companies may refuse to grant a loan on a flying freehold property.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Birmingham Midshires. If you e-mail us we can look into this further via the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Wanstead Flats. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

I today plan to offer on a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a reasonable figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have since found out that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns buying a house with a leasehold title in Wanstead Flats. Conveyancing lawyers have are soon to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Wanstead Flats are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Wanstead Flats in which case you should be shopping around for a Wanstead Flats conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions such as requiring the landlord’spermission to conduct alterations. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your conveyancer will appraise you on the various issues.

Wanstead Flats Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

Is anyone aware of any major works on the horizon that will likely add a premium to the service charges? Who are the managing agents? How much is the ground rent and service charge?

My aim is to purchase a garden maisonette in Wanstead Flats. Conveyancing solicitor has been waiting for, from the vendor, building insurance paperwork. I was told today I was advised that the owner needs to send the insurance schedule for the flat above in addition. Why does my lawyer want to check the insurance for the flat above? Is it strictly necessary? We have been in hold for the previous three weeks…

It is not impossible in leasehold conveyancing in Wanstead Flats to discover Conveyancing in Wanstead Flats in a minority of cases reveals that the lease requires the leasehold owners to insure their individual flats rather than the landlord insuring the entire block - which is clearly better. You should clarify with your conveyancing practitioner but it would seem that your lawyer is looking to verify that the entire building is insured. Insuring a ground floor apartment is no help when it comes to rebuilding after a fire if the other flat cannot be reconstructed for lack of insurance.