Conveyancing cancelled due to section 42 lease extension

Andrew_Ryan_89

Hi all,

I am currently dealing with Premier Property Lawyers and they have recently dropped a bombshell on my house purchase. I am buying a property from my parents that has a short lease. The mortgage has been agreed and it's just the conveyancing that needs to be done.

I have paid them some of the money already and got a call saying that they are shutting down things their end as they've realised that there is a section 42 lease extension request on the property and they don't have specialist to deal with it.

Instead of selling the house, my parents explored the option of extending the lease but I have no idea why that should interfere in my house purchase. The solicitor over the phone did not sound like he knew what he was talking about and in combination with him sounding like he was trying to fob me off, I also had an appointment to go to so could not stay on the phone long.

On top of this, my login details for their website no longer work and this house purchase is extremely time sensitive and needs to be done ASAP. Does the above sound legit? And if so, can I get my money back?

LadyGMadameToThee

When you signed up with these solicitors, did it say in the small print that if the sale didn't proceed, you would be refunded? My conveyancers don't charge unless the sale completes with them.
Also, you need to phone around and find a conveyancer who specialises in short leases. It's true to say that it IS a specialist area and many high street small-time solicitors and conveyancer simply don't have the knowledge or know-how to convey complex sales like yours. You say the sale most go through urgently but, surely, if the sellers are your parents, they will give you as much time as you need?

BrassicWoman

this is the property you are buying to get your parents out of debt yes?

how short is the lease? it may be unmortgagable.

EDIT: just checked an old thread - 50 year lease.

Does your lender know this?

Andrew_Ryan_89

So a bit more info. The bank offered the mortgage some time ago and we are doing a 6 year term or something along those lines. They had all this information up front and the bank is fine with it.

BrassicWoman

so, you either needs your folks to formally withdraw the section 42, or a new conveyancer. possibly both.

try a proper solicitor this time not a conveyancer, costs more but worth it.