Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Bartley Green. Before I get started I want to be sure as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Bartley Green - 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.

Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a garden flat in Bartley Green. Conveyancing lawyers assured me that they report fully within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

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

• The physical extent of the premises. This will be the apartment itself but may include a roof space or cellar if appropriate.
• You should be told what counts as a Nuisance in the lease
• Whether your lease has a provision for a reserve fund?
• Repair and maintenance of the flat
• I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required
• Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property and do you know what it means in practice?
• Responsibility for repairing the window frames

I've recently bought a leasehold property in Bartley Green. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Bartley Green conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Bartley Green conveyancing firm) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you talk with two or three firms including non Bartley Green conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be useful:

• How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?
• What are the legal fees for lease extension work?

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Bartley Green with the intention of saving time on the sale process?

• Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Bartley Green can be avoided where you appoint lawyers as soon as you market your property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ conveyancers.
• The majority freeholders or managing agents in Bartley Green charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the fee that they propose to charge. The management information sought as soon as you have a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most common reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Bartley Green.
• If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s approval? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Bartley Green leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or laying down wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord approving such alterations. Where you fail to have the approvals to hand you should not contact the landlord without checking with your lawyer before hand.
• If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should ensure that you are holding the original share certificate. Obtaining a replacement share certificate is often a time consuming formality and slows down many a Bartley Green home move. If a duplicate share certificate is necessary, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this sooner rather than later.
• You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be advisable double-check via your lawyers. A purchaser's conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to to exchange contracts if the lease term is under 75 years. It is therefore important at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease term for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

I own a basement flat in Bartley Green, conveyancing was carried out 5 years ago. How much will my lease extension cost? Equivalent properties in Bartley Green with over 90 years remaining are worth £175,000. The ground rent is £55 charged once a year. The lease expires on 21st October 2087

With 61 years unexpired the likely cost is going to be between £18,100 and £20,800 plus legals.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on the actual costs without more comprehensive due diligence. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be other concerns that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.