For Buyers:

Pre-Contract Stage:

• Reviewing and negotiating contract terms

• Conducting local authority searches (planning, building control, environmental)

• Performing Land Registry searches and examining title documents

• Investigating potential legal issues affecting the property

• Raising enquiries with the seller's solicitor

• Reviewing and explaining search results

• Advising on survey findings and legal implications

• Checking planning permissions and building regulations compliance

Exchange to Completion:

• Finalizing mortgage arrangements with your lender

• Preparing completion statements and explaining costs

• Arranging exchange of contracts

• Coordinating completion date

• Arranging funds transfer

• Completing the purchase and registering your ownership

Post-Completion:

• Registering your ownership at Land Registry

• Paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on your behalf

• Sending you official title documents

• Dealing with any post-completion matters

For Sellers:

• Obtaining and preparing legal title documents

• Responding to buyer's solicitor enquiries

• Negotiating contract terms on your behalf

• Arranging to repay your existing mortgage

• Coordinating completion date with your onward purchase

• Receiving and verifying completion funds

• Confirming completion and releasing keys

First-Time Buyers:

We understand buying your first home is exciting but daunting. Our conveyancing solicitors take extra care to:

• Explain each stage clearly without jargon

• Answer all your questions patiently

• Help you understand survey reports and searches

• Coordinate with your mortgage broker and lender

• Make the process as straightforward as possible

Chain Management:

Property chains require careful coordination. We proactively manage your position in the chain, liaising with all solicitors involved to avoid delays and achieve simultaneous exchange and completion where possible.

Leasehold Properties:

Buying leasehold property involves additional complexities:

• Reviewing lease terms and restrictions

• Checking ground rent and service charge obligations

• Assessing length of remaining lease term

• Advising on lease extension requirements

• Dealing with freeholder and management company enquiries

• Reviewing building insurance arrangements

Our remortgage conveyancing service includes:

• Acting for your new lender

• Reviewing your property title

• Conducting necessary searches where required

• Preparing and submitting mortgage deed

• Coordinating redemption of existing mortgage

• Registering new mortgage at Land Registry

Benefits of using Leonard Legal for remortgaging:

• Fast turnaround times

• Competitive fixed fees

• Minimal disruption to you

• Coordination with your broker and lenders

Statutory Lease Extensions:

After owning your leasehold flat for 2 years, you have a statutory right to extend your lease by 90 years and reduce ground rent to zero. We manage:

• Serving Section 42 notice on your landlord

• Negotiating premium with the freeholder

• Tribunal proceedings if agreement cannot be reached

• Finalizing and registering the extended lease

Informal Lease Extensions:

Negotiated extensions outside the statutory process, often used when you haven't owned the property for 2 years or for houses with leasehold issues.

Lease Extension Valuations:

We work with experienced surveyors to determine fair premium calculations, considering property value, existing lease term, and ground rent.

We assist with:

• Adding or removing a spouse/partner from the title

• Transfers between family members

• Divorce-related property transfers

• Transfers into trust structures

• Declaration of trust preparation (tenants in common arrangements)

Stamp Duty Considerations:

We advise on SDLT implications of transfers, including exemptions for transactions between spouses and considerations when mortgage debt is assumed.