I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Barton under Needwood. Before diving in I require certainty as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

If the lease is registered - and most are in Barton under Needwood - 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.

Harry (my fiance) and I may need to sub-let our Barton under Needwood garden flat temporarily due to a new job. We used a Barton under Needwood conveyancing practice in 2004 but they have closed and we did not think at the time seek any advice as to whether the lease permits subletting. How do we find out?

A small minority of properties in Barton under Needwood do contain a provision to say that subletting is only allowed with permission. The landlord is not entitled to unreasonably withhold but, in such cases, they would need to see references. Experience dictates that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting permission.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 62 years remaining on my flat in Barton under Needwood. I now wish to get lease extension but my freeholder is missing. What are my options?

If you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be granted an extra 90 years by the Court. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to find the landlord. On the whole a specialist may be helpful to try and locate and prepare a report which can be used as proof that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a solicitor both on investigating the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Barton under Needwood.

I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a two apartments in Barton under Needwood which have in the region of forty five years unexpired on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

There are plenty of short leases in Barton under Needwood. The lease is a right to use the property for a period of time. As the lease shortens the value of the lease reduces and results in it becoming more expensive to extend the lease. This is why it is advisable to extend the lease term. It is often difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease as mortgage companies may be reluctant to lend money on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a protracted process. We advise that you get professional help from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this arena

What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Barton under Needwood conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Barton under Needwood conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggested that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Barton under Needwood conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be of use:

• If they are not ALEP accredited then why not?

Leasehold Conveyancing in Barton under Needwood - Examples of Queries Prior to buying

It would be prudent to find out if there are any onerous prohibitions in the lease. For example it is very common in Barton under Needwood leases that pets are not permitted in certain buildings in Barton under Needwood. If you love the apartmentin Barton under Needwood but your dog can’t make the move with you then you will be presented with a difficult choice. This information is helpful as a) areas could result in problems for the building as the communal areas may start to deteriorate if repairs remain unpaid b) if the leaseholders have an issue with the managing agents you will want to have full disclosure The best form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this scenario the leaseholders have control and even though a managing agent is often retained where it is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent retained by the leaseholders.

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Lease Extensions in Barton under Needwood