We were just about to sign contracts for a property in Upper Edmonton. We have hit a problem. Our mortgage offer with Bank of Ireland expires on 26/3/2026 but the owners are putting forward a completion date of 30/3/2026. Is it possible to prolong the loan expiry date?

The person best placed to deal with your issue is your conveyancer who is in a position to assess whether he or she is corresponding with the bank, vendor’s representatives, selling agents or possibly all three given what has gone on in your conveyancing as of today.

I am considering applying for a Co-operative mortgage for purchase of a newly converted (under development) in Upper Edmonton with 65 per cent LTV. Is it compulsory to choose a solicitor on the conveyancing panel for Co-operative ?

There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor, but Co-operative will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is greater potential for delays and confusion with two solicitors involved, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.

I am looking into buying my first house which is in Upper Edmonton and I am already nervous. I couldn't find anything specific about Upper Edmonton. Conveyancing will be needed in due course but do you know about the Upper Edmonton area? or perhaps some other tips you can share?

Rather than looking online forget looking online you should go and have a look at Upper Edmonton. In the meantime here are some basic statistics that we found

We're new on the property ladder - agreed a price, but the selling agent advised that the vendor will only move forward if we instruct the agent's preferred conveyancers as they want an ‘expedited deal’. Our preferred option is to instruct a family conveyancer accustomed to conveyancing in Upper Edmonton

We suspect that the owner is unaware of this request. If they want ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a genuine purchaser is counter productive. Try to communicate with the vendors directly and explain that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are excited to move forward, with finances in place © you are chain free (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you intend to instruct your own,trusted Upper Edmonton conveyancing firm - as opposed tothose that will give the negotiator at the agency a referral fee or achieve conveyancing targets demanded by corporate headquarters.

I am a negotiator for a busy estate agency in Upper Edmonton where we see a number of leasehold sales put at risk as a result of leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have received inconsistent advice from local Upper Edmonton conveyancing firms. Can you shed some light as to whether the owner of a flat can commence the lease extension process for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

Provided that the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to kick-start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. The benefit of this is that the buyer need not have to sit tight for 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done before, or simultaneously with completion of the sale.

Alternatively, it may be possible to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.

I am the registered owner of a garden flat in Upper Edmonton, conveyancing formalities finalised in 1998. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Corresponding flats in Upper Edmonton with a long lease are worth £216,000. The ground rent is £50 invoiced annually. The lease runs out on 21st October 2094

With only 68 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to range between £9,500 and £11,000 plus legals.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive investigations. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt other issues that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.