I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Arundel. Before diving in I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Arundel - 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 have just appointed agents to market my 2 bed flat in Arundel.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just received a half-yearly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

It best that you pay the invoice as normal because all ground rent and service charges will be apportioned on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have just discovered that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are issues buying a house with a leasehold title in Arundel. Conveyancing advisers have are soon to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Arundel are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Arundel so you should seriously consider looking for a Arundel conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions for example obtaining the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your lawyer should advise you fully on all the issues.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to appointing a Arundel conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Arundel conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you speak with two or three firms including non Arundel conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be helpful:

• What volume of lease extensions has the firm conducted in Arundel in the last twenty four months?

When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Arundel what are the most common lease defects?

There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in Arundel. All leases are individual and legal mistakes in the legal wording can sometimes mean that certain sections are erroneous. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

• Repairing obligations to or maintain elements of the premises
• Insurance obligations
• A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party.
• Service charge per centages that don't add up correctly leaving a shortfall

You could have a problem when selling your property if you have a defective lease primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. Birmingham Midshires, Coventry Building Society, and TSB all have very detailed requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease is problematic they may refuse to provide security, forcing the buyer to withdraw.

Arundel Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries Prior to Purchasing

You should want to find out as much as possible concerning the company managing the building as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. As the proprietor of a leasehold property you are frequently at the mercy of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to daily issues like the cleanliness of the common parts. Enquire of other tenants if they are happy with their management. Finally, be sure you know the dates that the service fees are due to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money. Most Arundel leasehold flats will have a service charge for the upkeep of the block levied on behalf of the freeholder. If you buy the flat you will have to pay this amount, normally periodically accross the year. This can be anything from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large common grounds. There will also be a ground rent to be met yearly, normally this is not a significant figure, say approximately £25-£75 but you should to check as occasionally it could be many hundreds of pounds. What prohibitions are contained in the Arundel Lease?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Arundel