I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Alsager. Before I get started I would like to find out the remaining lease term.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Alsager - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title.For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

I only have 62 years remaining on my flat in Alsager. I am keen to extend my lease but my freeholder is absent. What are my options?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be extended by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to track down the freeholder. For most situations an enquiry agent would be helpful to try and locate and to produce a report which can be used as proof that the landlord is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on proving the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court covering Alsager.

Due to exchange soon on a leasehold property in Alsager. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they report fully tomorrow. What should I be looking out for?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Alsager should include some of the following:

• You should be sent a copy of the lease

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a reasonable figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have just found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Alsager. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Alsager are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Alsager in which case you should be looking for a Alsager conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the landlord’sconsent to conduct alterations. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your solicitor should advise you fully on all the issues.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Alsager. Conveyancing and Bank of Ireland mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1998. The conveyancing practitioner in Alsager who acted for me is not around.Any advice?

First contact HMLR to make sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to incur the fees of a Alsager conveyancing solicitor to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Alsager - Examples of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

For most Alsager leaseholds the outlay for major works are not incorporated into the maintenance charges, albeit that a few managing agents in Alsager obliged tenants to pay into a reserve fund and this is used to offset against major works. Plenty Alsager leasehold properties will have a service charge for maintenance of the building levied on behalf of the management company. Where you buy the property you will have to pay this contribution, usually in instalments during the year. This could vary from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for bigger purpose-built blocks. In all likelihood there will be a ground rent to be met yearly, normally this is not a exorbitant amount, say around £25-£75 but you need to enquire as on occasion it could be many hundreds of pounds. Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge liability?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Alsager