My relative recommended that if I am buying in Lewisham I should ask my conveyancer to perform a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?

A search of this type is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Lewisham conveyancing searches. It is a large report of about 40 pages, listing and setting out significant information about Lewisham around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Lewisham Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information about Lewisham.

About to purchase a new build flat in Lewisham. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Lewisham

Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Please supply a car parking plan. Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal.

I decided to have a survey completed on a property in Lewisham before appointing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the house. The surveyor advised that some lenders tend not give a mortgage on this type of premises.

It depends who your proposed lender is. HSBC has different instructions for example to Halifax. Should you wish to telephone us we can investigate further via the appropriate bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Lewisham. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Lewisham to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.

How do I use the search app to choose a conveyancing practitioner in Lewisham on the authorised to act for my mortgage?

Step one is to select a mortgage company such as , or then choose your preferred area such as Lewisham. Conveyancing firms in Lewisham and across England and Wales will then be identified.

I have recently realised that I have Seventy years remaining on my flat in Lewisham. I now want to get lease extension but my landlord is absent. What options are available to me?

If you qualify, 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 mean that your lease can be extended by the Court. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you have used your best endeavours to locate the landlord. For most situations a specialist would be useful to conduct investigations and to produce a report which can be used as evidence that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on proving the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court covering Lewisham.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Lewisham - Examples of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

Does the lease have in excess of 90 years left? How is the lease structured? It is important to be aware whether window replacement or some other significant cost is due shortly to be shared amongst the leaseholders and will dramatically impact the level of the maintenance fees or require a specific payment.