Residential Sales and Purchases
Moving home is one of life’s most stressful challenges and with three quarters of UK homes owner occupied, most of us will be buyers and sellers at some point in our lives. Calm, focused, solicitors can make all the difference in the transaction, keeping the process smooth and under control. We remain by your side throughout, offering crystal clear advice from the start, through all of the legal and technical details until completion and beyond if necessary.
Whether you are buying or selling your house or flat (existing or new build), we will ensure that you are aware of everything that you need to know so that the transaction goes as smoothly as possible.
Auctions
Are you looking to sell a residential or commercial property via a public auction? We have a team of experts who will support you throughout preparing and submitting your legal pack, along with overseeing and handling completion.
If you’re looking to purchase a property at a public auction, our solicitors are on hand to advise and report on the legal pack, to ensure you are aware of any issues or defects prior to committing yourself to the purchase.
If you are successful with your bid, we can handle the completion process, including the submission of your Land Transaction Tax / Stamp Duty Land Tax return, and all of the registration formalities. This will enable you to focus on your new property and not having to worry about any of the legal formalities.
Mortgages, Re-Mortgages, Equity Release
Whether you need to release equity from your home or would simply like to obtain a more competitive mortgage rate, a smooth running re-mortgage is essential. We understand your need to finalise the re-mortgage as quickly and as simply as possible. That is why we have designed our system to provide a personalised service to our clients, ensuring that your re-mortgage is completed without undue delay.
We are on the panels of most banks and building societies (including all of the major lenders) and can therefore provide the speed, expertise and service you need.
Transfers of Equity/Ownership
Co-ownership/Declarations of Trust
Are you looking to buy a property with a co-owner, whether that be your spouse, family member or business partner? Or maybe you already co-own a property with one of the above? We can help you correctly document your interest in a property from the offset, with a view to avoiding any disputes in the future.
Whichever stage of the process you are at, we can advise you on the best way of holding a property jointly, based on your individual circumstances. We will advise you of the implications and provide you with the best possible solution tailored to your situation.
Gifts of Property
We are being consulted more and more by clients who wish to transfer or gift their home to their children or other family members. There are however potentially serious implications which you need to know about and considered carefully. Our qualified Team regularly advise on these issues and will ensure that you have the information to make a fully informed decision.
Assents
We understand how distressing the loss of a loved one can be, so we are on hand to assist you with dealing with the transfer of any property that forms part of your loved one’s estate.
Landlord and Tenant
Whether you are a landlord intending to rent out your property or a tenant intending to rent a new property, a tenancy agreement will be required. Our Property Team will ensure that your tenancy agreement is properly and legally drawn up, containing everything to suit your individual circumstances.We advise clients on their obligations under the agreement and on what they can expect from their landlord/tenant.
Leasehold Enfranchisement
Under the law you have rights to purchase the freehold of your property or to extend the term of your lease. There is also provision for collective enfranchisement (e.g. where all tenants in a block of flats buy the freehold and usually set up a management company of which they are all members). We can advise you, whether you are the current landlord or a tenant wishing to exercise your rights.
Buying your Freehold
Have you lived in your home for over 2 years and your lease is for 21 years or more? If so, you may be entitled to purchase the freehold from your landlord. The formal procedure for this can be complicated, however our team of property experts are on hand to make the process as straightforward as possible. We can also assist with your purchase if you have negotiated the terms of the purchase with the freeholder outside of the relevant legislation.
If you are a landowner and have been approached to sell your freehold, our solicitors have a wealth of experience in dealing with freeholder clients of both large and small Estates.
Extending your Lease
If your lease has a remaining term of 80 years or less, you should consider asking your landlord to extend the term. If you have owned the lease for at least two years, you may have a statutory right to extend the lease term.You should know that the shorter the term of the lease, the more difficult it becomes for prospective buyers to obtain a mortgage and the more expensive it becomes to extend the lease term.
Some of the benefits of extending the term of your lease include:
- Opportunity to remedy any defects in the existing lease.
- Opportunity to ensure compliance with the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ requirements.
- Reduces the rent to a peppercorn.
- Our Property Team are able to help and guide you through this complicated process whether the extension to the lease is a stand alone transaction or part of your existing sale or purchase transaction.
Collective Enfranchisement
The solicitors in our property department have experience in dealing with collective enfranchisement matters. We have acted for both freeholders and leaseholders of buildings comprising flats and maisonettes in connection with extending the individual lease terms, and collectively purchasing the freehold reversion and setting up a management company. Contact the team for further information.
Solar Panel Leases
With the rising cost of bills, more and more people have considered installing solar panels to their homes, and leasing their roof space. There are potential pitfalls in proceeding in this way, which you need to be wary of. If you are considering leasing your roof space for solar panels, you’ll need legal advice prior to point you in the right direction and provide you with information on the potential implications.