I have 7378 less than 75 years remaining on my lease and require a lease extension for my flat in West Kensington. Conveyancing solicitors on the Platform panel can deal with such extensions correct?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 25/1/2026 the requirements read as follows :
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on last month in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. West Kensington is where the house is located. Can you shed any light on this issue?
Flying freeholds in West Kensington are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in West Kensington you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in West Kensington may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.
Taking into account that I am about to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on 3 bedroom house in West Kensington I wish to talk to a solicitor about mytransaction ahead of instructing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?
We could not agree more - we would be happy to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you liaising with the solicitor due to be conducting your conveyancing in West Kensington.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is an important individual, not a case number. The law firms that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are provided with for residential conveyancing in West Kensington should be the amount on the final invoice that you are charged.
My partner has encouraged me to use his conveyancers in West Kensington. Should I use them?
There are no two ways about it the ideal way to find a conveyancing lawyer is to get feedback from friends or relatives who have actually previously instructed the firm you're are thinking of instructing.
Last August I purchased a leasehold flat in West Kensington. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before my ownership?
In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
I am the proprietor of a basement flat in West Kensington. In the absence of agreement between myself and the landlord, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the premium due for the purchase of the freehold?
if there is a absentee freeholder or if there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to determine the price payable.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a West Kensington premises is 93 Oakwood Court in June 2010. the LVT determined that the premium to be paid for the new lease was £492,083, This case related to 1 flat. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 37.79 years.