Recently asked questions relating to Beaufort leasehold conveyancing
Looking forward to sign contracts shortly on a basement flat in Beaufort. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they report fully within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?
The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Beaufort should include some of the following:
- Will you be prohibited or prevented from having pets in the property?
I have just started marketing my basement apartment in Beaufort.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just received a yearly maintenance charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?
It best that you pay the service charge 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 own a leasehold house in Beaufort. Conveyancing and Bank of Scotland mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1997. The conveyancing practitioner in Beaufort who previously acted has now retired.Any advice?
First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a Beaufort conveyancing solicitor to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.
I am attracted to a couple of maisonettes in Beaufort both have in the region of fifty years left on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?
A lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a period of time. As the lease gets shorter the marketability of the lease reduces and it becomes more expensive to extend the lease. For this reason it is generally wise to extend the lease term. It is often difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease as mortgage lenders less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease extension can be a difficult process. We recommend you get professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this field
I've recently bought a leasehold flat in Beaufort. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?
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. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element 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).
Leasehold Conveyancing in Beaufort - A selection of Queries before buying
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The best form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this scenario the lessees have being in charge if their destiny and even though a managing agent is often employed where it is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves.
It is important to be aware whether a new roof is being installed or some other major work is anticipated to be shared amongst the leasehold owners and could well materially impact the level of the service charges or result in a specific invoice.
Who is in charge of the building?
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