We are buying a property and need a conveyancing solicitor in Watford who is on the approved panel. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a firm?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to be listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for . We don't recommend any particular firms conducting conveyancing in Watford.

I have todayfound out that Stirling Law have closed. They carried out my conveyancing in Watford for a purchase of a leasehold apartment 12 months ago. How can I check that the property is not still registered in the name of the previous owner?

The easiest way to see if the property is registered to you, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Watford conveyancing specialists.

I am looking to sell my property. My previous lawyers have shut. It would be helpful to have a recommendation of a conveyancing firm. I happen to live in Watford if that makes things easier.

You should use our search tool to help you find a solicitor for your conveyancing in Watford. We have connected thousands of home buyers and sellers with lender approved solicitors to ensure that the legalities of their house move goes smoothly.

I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a couple of apartments in Watford both have approximately forty five years left on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

There are no two ways about it. A leasehold apartment in Watford is a wasting asset as a result of the shortening lease. The nearer the lease gets to zero years unexpired, the more it adversely affects the value of the property. The majority of purchasers and banks, leases with less than 75 years become less and less marketable. On a more upbeat note, leaseholders can extend their leases by serving a Section 42 Notice. One stipulation is that they must have owned the property for two years (unlike a Section 13 notice for purchasing the freehold, when leaseholders can participate from day one of ownership). When successful, they will have the right to an extension of 90 years to the current term and ground rent is effectively reduced to zero. Before moving forward with a purchase of a property with a short lease term remaining you should talk to a solicitor specialising in lease extensions and leasehold enfranchisement. We are are happy to put you in touch with Watford conveyancing experts who will explain the options available to you during an initial telephone conversation free of charge. A more straightforward and quicker method of extending would be to contact your landlord directly and sound him out on the prospect of extending the lease. You may find he or she is happy to negotiate informally and willing to consider your offer straight off, without having to involve anyone else. This will save you time and money and it could help you reach a lower price on the lease. You need to ensure that the agreed terms represent good long-term value compared with the standard benefits of the Section 42 Notice and that onerous clauses are not inserted into any redrafting of the lease.

I inherited a ground floor flat in Watford, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Similar properties in Watford with a long lease are worth £165,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 yearly. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 50

With just 50 years unexpired the likely cost is going to range between £36,100 and £41,800 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to supply a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional issues that need to be taken into account and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first getting professional advice.

My wife and I have chosen a Watford conveyancing solicitor for our home move (novice purchasers) and have noticed in the engagement letter that they are not governed by the Financial Conduct Authority. Need I be concerned or is that usually the case with ?

We can't see why they should be. Most don't lend money. You should check that they are governed by the SRA, who have stringent obligations in relation to funds sitting by them.