When can the exchange of contracts occur in residential conveyancing in West Ham and am I required to attend the solicitors branch?

Where you are round the corner to one of the conveyancing solicitors in West Ham you are invited in to sign documents. That being said, the law practices we work with offer countrywide coverage for conveyancing and provide as equally comprehensive and professional a job for you when communicating with you digitally. The executing of the contract is not when everything is set in stone. Signing on the dotted line is just a prerequisite for the solicitor to officially exchange at the appropriate time, which is ordinarily shortly after signing. The exchange process is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where a lengthy "chain" is involved, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in West Ham)to be in the office available at the end of the phone to exchange contracts.

I have 71 years unexpired on my lease and need a lease extension for my flat in West Ham. Conveyancing solicitors on the Tesco Bank panel can deal with such extensions right?

Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Tesco Bank have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 7/9/2025 the requirements read as follows :

What is the difference between a licensed conveyancer and conveyancing solicitor in West Ham

There are two types of lawyers who can conduct conveyancing in West Ham namely CLC regulated conveyancers or solicitors. The two can provide conveyancing services that required to complete the disposal or acquisition of property. They are both obliged to handle West Ham conveyancing to the same quality and guidelines so you can be safe in the knowledge that your conveyancing will be properly conducted and that all necessary procedures should be appropriately adhered to.

Have just purchased a probate house at auction in West Ham. Conveyancing is necessary. What is next?

Having for in every practical sense signed on the dotted line you will need to retain a conveyancing solicitor as a matter of urgency as you are faced with a pending a drop dead date to complete the purchase. Every auction property will ordinarily have an associated auction pack. This will likely include evidence of title and search results. Where you are dealing with leasehold premises the auction pack may include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing paperwork specific to leasehold premises. You should pass this on to the conveyancer working for you at the earliest opportunity. You also need to ensure that you have funds in place to complete the transaction on the set completion date.

I've digested plenty of mortgage guides, I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local West Ham solicitor - who is on the Principality conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?

Principality will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Principality will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own West Ham surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.

I'm purchasing a new build house in West Ham with the aid of help to buy. The sellers would not move on the price so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The estate agent advised me not to tell my lawyer about this side-deal as it would adversely affect my mortgage with the bank. Do I keep my lawyer in the dark?.

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.

I only have 68 years remaining on my flat in West Ham. I am keen to get lease extension but my freeholder is absent. What options are available to me?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be extended by the Court. You will be obliged to prove that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to find the lessor. On the whole a specialist would be useful to carry out a search and prepare a report to be used as evidence that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer in relation to proving the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing West Ham.

Following months of negotiations we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in West Ham. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a West Ham conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a West Ham premises is 46 Credon Road in January 2014. On 11 September 2013 Deputy District Judge Price sitting at the Bow County Court made a vesting order that the freeholder surrender his lease and be granted a new lease of the Premises on such terms as may be determined by the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).The appropriate sum as concluded by the Tribunal was £7225 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 69.77 years.