I have 71 years unexpired on my lease and need a lease extension for my apartment in Woodhall Spa. Conveyancing solicitors on the Platform panel can deal with such extensions correct?

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. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 27/7/2025 the requirements read as follows :

I am helping my sister sell her property in Woodhall Spa. Will the conveyancer arrange an EPC or it is for the seller to see to?

After the demise of Home Information Packs, EPC’s remained a required element of moving house. An EPC needs to be to hand in advance of the property being advertised. It is not as aspect of the sale process that lawyers normally organise. If you are using a Woodhall Spa conveyancing solicitor they might be willing to arrange EPC’s due to their relationships with reputable Woodhall Spa accredited person

Are all Woodhall Spa Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Aldermore conveyancing list of approved practices?

A selection of lenders now make use of CQS as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS membership however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitor practices wishing to remain on their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.

Intending to buy a house in Woodhall Spa. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.

They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the Woodhall Spa lawyer is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Woodhall Spa?

Restrictive covenants can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Woodhall Spa. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

I am looking for a ground for flat up to £305k and found one close by in Woodhall Spa I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, the downside is that it's only got 52 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Woodhall Spa in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a lease with such few years left?

If you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease will be problematic. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this matter.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to choosing a Woodhall Spa conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Woodhall Spa conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggest that you speak with several firms including non Woodhall Spa conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. The following questions could be of use:

If the firm is not ALEP accredited then why not? What volume of lease extensions have they conducted in Woodhall Spa in the last 12 months?

Woodhall Spa Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Queries Prior to Purchasing

How much is the service charge and ground rent on the flat? It would be prudent to discover as much as you can concerning the managing agents as they will either make living at the property much simpler or problematic. As the owner of a leasehold property you are often in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to day to day matters like the cleanliness of the communal areas. You should not be afraid to ask prospective neighbours what they think of their service. On a final note, be sure you know the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the managing agents and precisely how they are spending the funds. It is important to be aware whether changing the roof or some other significant cost is coming up that will be shared amongst the leaseholders and will materially increase the the service charges or result in a specific payment.