My financial adviser says he needs my Cottenham Park lawyer’ panel reference for the Nat West conveyancing panel. Can you suggest how I obtain this. I have e-mailed my local Cottenham Park branch but they have not got back to me yet.

The sensible thing to do is ask for this information from your Cottenham Park solicitor . Most Cottenham Park conveyancing practices will keep a file or database of lender panel information which would include, if applicable, their conveyancing panel details for each mortgage company.

Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Cottenham Park costs more?

In summary, leasehold conveyancing in Cottenham Park and South West London usually requires additional due diligence compared to freehold conveyancing. This includes lease investigation, liaising with the landlord concerning serving required notices, securing current service charge and management information, securing the landlord’s consents and reviewing management accounts. The obligations on both the landlord and the tenant in the lease need to be studied by the buyer’s conveyancing team and read from beginning to end – no matter how many different proprietor have owned the lease since it was first entered into.

Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £305k and found one close by in Cottenham Park I like with amenity areas and railway links in the vicinity, however it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Cottenham Park suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a short lease?

If you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer 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 twenty four months you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer concerning this.

My uncle has suggested that I use his conveyancers in Cottenham Park. Should I find my own solicitor?

There are no two ways about it the ideal way to choose a conveyancing lawyer is to get referrals from friends or relatives who have used the firm you're considering.

I've recently bought a leasehold property in Cottenham Park. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

I invested in buying a basement flat in Cottenham Park, conveyancing having been completed half a dozen years ago. How much will my lease extension cost? Comparable flats in Cottenham Park with an extended lease are worth £185,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £65 yearly. The lease finishes on 21st October 2086

With only 60 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £20,000 and £23,000 as well as costs.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on the actual costs without more detailed investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward based on this information without first getting professional advice.