I own a freehold property in Heathrow yet pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Heathrow and has limited impact for conveyancing in Heathrow but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of new rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be dispensed with completely.

I am buying a semi-detached house in Heathrow. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Heathrow you will have to appoint a solicitor on your bank's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Heathrow.

Is it correct that all Heathrow CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel?

Some major banks and building societies now use the accreditation scheme as the kick off point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS membership however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitors wishing to remain on their approved list of conveyancing solicitors.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Heathrow off the council. I have a mortgage offer with Yorkshire BS. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Yorkshire BS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel.

After much negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment in Heathrow. My financial adviser pressured me to appoint their conveyancing practitioner. I paid an on account payment of £175. Soon after, the property lawyer called me to say that they were not on the Nottingham conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Nottingham panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

Taking into account that I am about to part with hundreds of thousands of pounds on a property in Heathrow I wish to have a conversation with the lawyer regarding thehouse move before instructing the firm. Can this be arranged?

Absolutely - we would be delighted to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you first talking to the lawyer due to be carrying out your conveyancing in Heathrow.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is an important individual, not a matter number. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are provided with for residential conveyancing in Heathrow should be the figure that you are charged.

Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Heathrow from the perspective of expediting the sale process?

• Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Heathrow can be bypassed where you get in touch lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation which will be required by the purchasers’ lawyers.
Some Heathrow leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers put in hand financial (bank) and professional references. The bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their solicitors. If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should make sure that you hold the original share document. Obtaining a new share certificate can be a lengthy process and frustrates many a Heathrow conveyancing deal. Where a new share is needed, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity. You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but you should verify this by asking your lawyers. A purchaser's lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the lease term is under 80 years. It is therefore important at an early stage that you consider whether the lease term for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale.

I am the registered owner of a ground floor flat in Heathrow. In the absence of agreement between myself and the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the premium payable for a lease extension?

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

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Heathrow residence is 147 Redford Close in June 2012. The Tribunal determined the lease extension premium to be at £4,200 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The remaining number of years on the lease was 82.93 years.