351 Reviews
  • DM

    The conveyancing process took about 11 weeks with no chain at either end. Umar was able to arrange everything to happen on my requested completion date towards the end of March, which was close to the April stamp duty deadline so this was appreciated.

  • D Rahman

    I would like to share my recent experience using the service of Versus Law solicitors and they are brilliant.. my purchase was a rapid sale and I only had 6 weeks to do the completion and beat the deadline of stamp duty rise and I was able to complete 10 days before the deadline.
    Umar Shamly who was dealing with my file was absolutely brilliant very informative very helpful very professional and easy to reachable. He was always prompt with the responses .
    They made the whole process very easy and smooth for me .
    Will definitely recommend them to friends and family

  • Storm

    I had a very smooth service from Versus Law, and my solicitor Umar was always very quick to respond which makes the world of difference

  • A Ali

    Versuslaw especially Anita Craig helped so kindly from 2018 for pia delay flight claim which was showing possible but Ms Anita Craig proved it again that versus law can do it. Thank you will use again and recommend 100percent.

  • R Nabi

    We have just completed on a buy and sell having used Versus Law for both sides of the transaction.
    Versus Law have been immense throughout, with the Conveyancer looking after our ‘purchase’ working hand in hand with his colleagues to keep us informed of how the ‘sell’ was progressing too.
    Amazing bunch of people. There should be more firms providing this high level of service.

  • B Keane

    Very professional and up to the task
    I found versus law straight forward and very helpful.

  • K Boon

    i recently completed on a property and was guided really well by Katrina and Lisa. Ive never purchased a property before so really didn’t know what was involved. It was easy and seamless no stress at all followed by a price that was so much cheaper than other quotes I’d had

  • M Rehman

    Having had my PIA flight delayed for over 5 hours.. Anita Craig of versus law solicitors was a great help. Every step was made easy for me to understand and I will definitely be recommending yourselves to family and friends.

  • J Nugent

    They made the whole process of my injury claim
    simple and straight forward, They even managed to get
    me my compensation before Christmas which I wasn’t expecting, A big thanks to Kulbinder Mehay

  • Steven P

    Excellent work, thank you.

  • Liz

    Nicola Nolan and Natalie Moylan are an excellent conveyancing team. We have used them more than once and recommend them to friends and family (who were also impressed). This time they were involved in us buying a property in Wales and kept us informed all the way through, even with covid restrictions causing problems. They are friendly, efficient and get the job done in a no-nonsense way which is what you need. They take the stress out of conveyancing for you. Very impressed and would recommend to anyone and everyone.

  • Gem

    I was selling my home which had a complicated title and versus law was recommended to me. Natalie Moylan handled my case from start to finish and I couldn’t ask for anyone better! There were no obstacles that couldn’t be overcome and in a very fast turn around too. The sale completed in no time at all. Natalie was timely, professional and friendly and an absolute pleasure to have on my side. I would strongly recommend Versus law to anyone.

  • Bonnie

    I have used the services of Nicola Nolan at Versus Law twice this year and was instantly put at ease and very impressed with the help received and the outcome achieved. Would recommend without hesitation

  • Daniel

    I called to get some documents certified, the ladies on reception were so helpful. I am very happy with the service I received and will use Versus Law again.

  • M

    Dealt with my flight claim hassle free and super quick, I was continuously updated every step of the way and overall really pleased with the outcome. A personal thank you to Anita as she couldn’t have made it easier for me and saw through any problems I had!

  • Richard

    I purchased my first home in February, and used Versus as my solicitor. I dealt with Natalie Moylan from start to finish, who was excellent throughout. The purchase ended up being delayed and resulted in a quite hectic finish, but Natalie remained calm and professional at all times, whilst providing a very high quality of work. My thanks to Natalie and her team, for making a long purchase so much easier!

  • C Savage

    We were selling our house (through Nick) and buying a house (through Natalie) and I can honestly say these are the best solicitors we’ve ever used (we had always used ones in London previously). They both kept us informed on a regular basis as to how things were progressing which I really valued and they were quick to respond to any queries I asked. They were professional, efficient, helpful and really nice to deal with. We were recommended Versus through local friends that have used them previously and I would definitely recommend Versus to anyone else asking me for a recommendation.
    Thanks again Natalie and Nick.

  • J Percy

    We used Nicola Nolan for our purchase/transfer of ownership. She was excellent from start to finish. We were fully informed of the process throughout and she was always friendly, approachable and very professional at all times. Would definitely recommend her at Versus Law. Thank you again

  • J Guntren

    Amazing law firm for conveyancing!! My wife and I made an offer on a house 24th September and we were moved in by 20th December. It should also be noted that we were selling my wife’s apartment at the same time (also using Versus), further complicating everything. Thanks to Natalie, everything was done in a very efficient manner and she was very understanding of our situation.

  • P Godfrey

    Many thanks to Anita and all the staff at Versuslaw, they made my flight compensation claim for delay a breeze. I would highly recommend them

  • G Ryder

    The service and advise that we received from Versuslaw was exceptional. We had numerous issues with the house that we were buying and the team at Versus law guided us through the process whilst always looking out for our best interest.They were always prompt in responding to any question that we had and would update us on a regular basis. Thanks again to Nicola, Nick and Francine

  • Mark

    Excellent, professional and friendly work from Nick, Nicola and Natalie. They were flexible and very helpful in pushing along the sale despite several hurdles. Would definitely use again in future and would recommend others do so too

  • C Keen

    Absolutely superb service from Nicola Nolan. Highly trust and recommend. Honest attention to detail.

  • V Griffith

    We would like to say a big heartfelt thank you to Saqib Kazam versuslaw
    Once he took our case in for Holiday compensation He kept us up to date with every thing explaining every step he took this was not an easy case but he got us an excellent result a kind polite very professional young man. Highly recommend

  • J Williams

    From the moment we rung Versus Law and spoke to the receptionist on the phone to the moment we completed on our first home, Versus Law were excellent. Our solicitor was Tom and not only did he keep us updated every step of the way but he was very professional, efficient, offered valuable advice and made the process of buying a house stress free. We couldn’t recommend Versus Law enough and we just wanted to say a huge thank you to Tom and the team. Joe and Kara

  • S Foster

    Sarah handled my claim quickly and efficiently. It made the whole process easy and stress free. She was very professional and kept me informed every step. I would highly recommend Versuslaw.

  • H Cooper

    We would highly recommend Versus law, especially Nick Wintrip (selling) and Nicola Nolan (buying). They both kept us up to date throughout the whole process. They were easy to get hold of and were very prompt to answer any questions/email. We would have no hesitation in recommending Versus law for conveyancing.

  • I Asaf

    Fantastic service, very helpful and kept me informed at every stage

  • M Long

    From start to finish Versus Law have been professional and helpful. Tom Reid was always available to talk to us and gave us updates regularly meaning we did not have to constantly chase up matters. We are very happy by the service and would recommend to anyone looking for a reliable solicitor.

  • Jill T

    Excellent service. I was kept informed every step of the way. Natalie Moylan and Renee Burke were a pleasure to work with. Highly professional but with a personal touch. They both went above and beyond!

  • Danielle

    Excellent service from start to finish from Nicola and Natalie! Super responsive to emails and all my questions as a first time single buyer. Natalie and Nicola make a great team and are so approachable. Definitely recommend them for property related legal services.

  • Frankie

    Really happy with my experience using versus law, from start to finish they put my mind at ease as I wasn’t buying a house in the normal way, it was through a family divorce and there were time scales and dead lines to meet, versus law managed to conker my mortgage and speed things up to avoid any extra costs, nicola was always there to ease my mind when I had any concerns as things do get stressful whilst purchasing a property, the ladies on the reception we also a delight and couldn’t do more to make you feel comfortable in any situation, if you are thinking of using versus law to assist you through your mortgage then look no further as these guys couldn’t have done more for me, I couldn’t have been happier with my experience

  • Matt W

    Nicola Nolan’s conveyancing service has always been excellent, I have used them several times in the last 5 years. In particular for my business I have found their relationship and understanding of Paragon Bank to be very useful. I would highly recommend.

  • Kay

    Excellent decision to go with Versus Law! Nick Wintrip handled the very stressful job of our house sale with professionalism, calmness and a good sense of humour. We did everything via email, phone and post, and he was always quick in responding and keeping me updated every step of the way. Very competitively priced too. I would highly recommend Versus Law without the slightest hesitation.

  • O Li

    Thomas Reid dealt with the sale and purchase of our properties. He was a pleasure to work with – very quick to respond to queries and very efficient in his work. As a result, the process went very smoothly with minimal delays. I would highly recommend competitively priced Versus Law and especially the professionalism of Thomas Reid.

  • Mr RS

    Natalie Moylan dealt with the sale and purchase on my behalf. The whole process was very well handled with constant updates. The first solicitors I’ve used that’s responds within to an email within an hour! Would 100% use again!!!

  • Mrs LC

    Recently dealt with Nick Wintrip at Versus law when selling my property. Found him to be professional, quick and thorough. Process went smoothly and I was well informed throughout the process. I received regular updates and all enquiries were dealt with efficiently. Nick made the whole process of selling my home stress free and a happy one! Your the best Nick – thank you again 🙂
    Will highly recommend Versus Law Solicitors. They are the best

  • Jaxx

    Would recommend Versus Law for conveyancing; Nick and Natalie we’re our team with Nick the main contact, thank you Nick and Natalie for making the conveyancing experience as stress free as possible.

  • Paula

    Great experience working with Versus Law. Excellent level of professionalism from Thomas Reid who provided clear, precise information. Highly recommended from my side. Thanks to Tom and the team.

  • D

    Fantastic experience with Natalie and her colleagues. Email updates throughout the home buying process, estimates of how long it would take to get her work completed and local knowledge which speeded up the process. 100% recommended.

  • R Napier

    Really good and really helpful got things sorted alot quicker than anticipated very cooperative

  • Wetherill

    What an outstanding team they turned my purchase around within the set time frame and very professional at all times.
    They went above and beyond reassured myself throughout the process.
    As being a first time buyer I felt this was most important I would recommend them highly.

  • Nasir

    Versus Law dealt with my house sale from start to finish in a most professional manner. A friendly, professional, competent team who get the job done within the time parameters. I highly recommend this firm.

  • Colin and Yvonne

    Absolutely brilliant service as always.
    This is the third time using Versuslaw and they never fail to impress. Natalie and Nicola are real diamonds and you really get the sense that they actually care about you.

    We actually live in London, but continued to use them for our London property because of our previous experience with them.
    Thank you guys, would highly recommend you to anyone.

  • B Man

    Excellent service!!! We are really happy with the service VersusLaw provided to us. Being first time buyer, we dint have much idea about the whole process and had lots of questions. They have given proper and clear response on time to everything we have requested. For us, one of the property got cancelled in between the process because the owner decided to not to sell that property few days after accepting our offer. Though there were searches and procedures done already for that property VersusLaw did not ask Fee for that purchase as they understood the difficult situation we were in. When we found our next property, we had no doubt whom to contact. We are really happy and totally satisfied by the service Nicola, Natalie and their team offered. We will highly recommend your service to anyone,

  • Ross Grant

    Today I have completed on the purchase of my very first apartment, and it just wouldn’t have been possible without the INCREDIBLE knowledge, guidance and GENUINE care of Nicola, Natalie, and the entire Versus Law team.

    This purchase was far from straightforward, with lots of potential pitfalls – all navigated with professionalism, patience and an impeccable attention to detail by Nicola.

    Nic went well above and beyond the call of duty to look into some extremely complex accounts and repair budgets to the apartment block in question – something I would have completely overlooked.

    As a result, with her guidance, I managed to negotiate a £2,000 reduction in asking price – something I’m sure other solicitors would have let slip through the net.

    That’s a genuine £2000 saving – a lot of money for a first-time buyer.

    You get a real sense that these guys actually CARE – they make you feel more like a friend, than a client – and don’t leave a stone unturned when it comes to conveyancing. If there is anything to uncover on a property, trust me, Nicola will find it!

    In essence, Versus Law made what could have been a rather stressful situation, easy and straightforward.

    Communications and response times were brilliant, with daily updates coming via phone and email – and I never felt rushed by anyone when I had queries.

    I honestly cannot recommend Versus Law enough.

    I’m going to pick up the keys to my apartment now – and won’t be using anyone other than these guys for all future property purchases/ sales.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH Versus Law – I’ll be raising a glass of champagne to you all at the housewarming! 🙂

  • CW

    Great service provided by Nicola and her team.
    Always communicating with updates for the completion of my property.
    Would highly recommend

  • Jackie

    I used Versus Law to buy my first house. Had no idea how it worked but I must say that the conveyancing team held my hand all the way through. On the day of completion there was a delay and they stayed in office late to ensure it went through so I wasn’t waiting over the weekend. It was an absolute pleasure to deal with Versus Law and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. It was nice to speak to people who I felt cared for me and put my interests first at all times. Thank you so much for your help

  • Andy

    Versus were great to deal with when they provided the conveyancing for my house purchase. I was able to complete the process without needing to physically travel to their offices and my solicitor was always available for any questions when I was completing all the paperwork. Everyone was very friendly to speak to.

  • T Baguley

    Fantastic conveyancing service from Nicola and Natalie, they kept on top of everything from start to finish and were always available whenever we had questions. I’d be happy to recommend them to anyone.

  • David JC

    Very impressed with every aspect of Versus Law, from service they provide to the attitude of the staff. Always called back when they said they would and had a laugh with them too. Will definately use again (if I need to).

  • Mrs Morris

    I would recommend Versus Law to anyone, particularly Nick Wintrip, who looked after us extremely well. They are very efficient and communicated with us fully at all times. We were able to contact them by phone and e mail and did not need to rely on letter going back and forth. Nick is really friendly too and put us at ease throughout the end to end sales process. Thank you.

  • Tanita

    Nicola and Natalie did a wonderful job. They were friendly and patient. Answered my many many questions and got the job done very efficiently. I am highly impressed and would definitely recommend them.

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What does ‘short lease’ mean and why does it matter?


A “short lease” typically refers to a leasehold property where the unexpired term of the lease is less than 80 years. This is a critical threshold, as it affects not only the value of the property, but also your ability to secure a mortgage, and the cost of extending the lease in the future.

Why does the lease term matter?

Leasehold property is a wasting asset — as the lease term gets shorter, the property becomes less valuable. A lease that falls below 80 years:

  • Begins to lose value more quickly.
  • Becomes more difficult to sell.
  • May be unacceptable to many mortgage lenders.
  • Triggers a “marriage value” cost when extending (explained below).

Mortgage lenders typically have minimum lease requirements — often 70–85 years depending on their policy. If the lease term falls below their cut-off point, they may:

  • Refuse to lend at all.
  • Reduce the loan-to-value (LTV) they will offer.
  • Require that the lease be extended before completion — which is rarely possible in auction timescales.

What is marriage value?

If you extend a lease after it falls below 80 years, you must pay an additional cost called marriage value. This represents the increase in the property’s value once the lease is extended — and half of this uplift must be paid to the freeholder by law.

This makes lease extensions significantly more expensive once the lease term drops below the 80-year mark.

Why is this especially important in auction sales?

  • Auction legal packs may not include the lease term or refer only vaguely to it.
  • You may not have time to obtain a lease extension or negotiate with the freeholder before bidding.
  • If you buy a short lease flat, you are accepting reduced value, mortgage restrictions, and higher extension costs.

Short lease properties often appear in auctions because they are hard to sell on the open market — and may not be mortgageable in their current state.

Summary

Buying a flat with a short lease can expose you to major risks — including limited mortgage options, high extension costs, and difficulty reselling. Always confirm the lease length before bidding and understand the financial implications if the lease has less than 80 years remaining.