I am need of leasehold conveyancing for an apartment in a fairly new development (seven years built) in Wealdstone. Almost all the flats are already occupied. Is it really necessary to order neighbourhood searches as part of conveyancing in Wealdstone?
Where you are obtaining a loan, your lender will need some (many) of the searches so you'll have no choice. If not, then Wealdstone conveyancing searches are for you to decide upon. Your solicitor, will 'advise', perhaps in the strongest possible terms, that you should have the searches done, but he or she has a professional duty to do this. One thing to bear in mind; if you are likely to sell the house one day, it may be of interest to your future buyer what the searches contain. Sometimes houses with no practical issues can still throw up adverse search results. But if you insist that your lawyer to proceed without searches then your lawyer will have to follow your instructions or you may need to instruct a new lawyer for your conveyancing in Wealdstone.
I have 71 years left on my lease and need a lease extension for my apartment in Wealdstone. Conveyancing solicitors on the Platform panel can deal with such extensions right?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 9/12/2025 the requirements read as follows :
A colleague recommended that if I am buying in Wealdstone I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?
A search of this type is usually quoted for as part of the standard Wealdstone conveyancing searches. It is not a small report of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out significant information about Wealdstone around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Wealdstone Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime statistics, Local Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data about Wealdstone.
I'm purchasing my first flat in Wealdstone with a mortgage from Alliance & Leicester . The builders refused to reduce the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of additionals instead. The estate agent suggested that I not disclose to my solicitor about this deal as it would adversely affect my loan with the lender. Is this normal?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Wealdstone conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?
If you are instructing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Wealdstone conveyancing practice) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you speak with several firms including non Wealdstone conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions might be helpful:
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What are the legal fees for lease extension conveyancing? Can they put you in touch with clients in Wealdstone who can give a testimonial?
After years of dialogue we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Wealdstone. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?
Absolutely. We can put you in touch with a Wealdstone conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Wealdstone property is 139/139A Masons Avenue in February 2010. this was a case with an absentee freeholder. As a result the leaseholders applied to Willesden County Court for an order dispensing with the giving of a notice of claim.14th October 2009 District Judge Brar granted a vesting order and the court directed that the matter should be transferred to this tribunal to determine the freehold premium. The tribunal concluded on a figure of £13,000 for the freehold interest This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 74 years.