Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Bebington. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is registered - and almost all are in Bebington - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars 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 today plan to offer on a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in Bebington. Conveyancing advisers have are soon to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Bebington ?

The majority of houses in Bebington are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Bebington in which case you should be looking for a Bebington conveyancing practitioner and check that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the freeholder’spermission to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your lawyer should report to you on the legal implications.

I own a leasehold house in Bebington. Conveyancing and Halifax mortgage are in place. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1994. The conveyancing practitioner in Bebington who previously acted has now retired.Any advice?

The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to make sure that this person is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to instruct a Bebington conveyancing lawyer to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Bebington conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Bebington conveyancing firm) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you speak with several firms including non Bebington conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be helpful:

• How many lease extensions has the firm carried out in Bebington in the last year?

What are the costs for lease extension work?

All being well we will complete the disposal of our £250000 apartment in Bebington on Tuesday in a week. The managing agents has quoted £336 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and 3 years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in Bebington?

Bebington conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes typically necessitates fees being raised by management companies :

• Answering pre-exchange questions
• Where consent is required before sale in Bebington
• Supplying insurance information
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your solicitor will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Bebington leasehold premises is £350. For Bebington conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are required to provide the information.

Bebington Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries Prior to buying

Its a good idea to discover as much as you can about the company managing the block as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you are often in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to every day issues such as the upkeep of the common parts. Enquire of other tenants whether they are happy with their service. Finally, investigate as to the dates that the service charges are due to the appropriate party and precisely what it includes. Best to be warned whether changing the roof or some other significant cost is due in the foreseeable future that will be shared amongst the leaseholders and could well dramatically impact the level of the maintenance costs or result in a specific payment. The majority of Bebington leasehold apartments will be liable to pay a service charge for maintenance of the block levied by the freeholder. If you acquire the apartment you will have to meet this liability, usually in instalments throughout the year. This could vary from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large common areas. There will also be a rentcharge to be met annual, normally this is not a significant sum, say around £25-£75 but you need to check as occasionally it can be many hundreds of pounds.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Bebington