Benfleet leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s
Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Benfleet. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.
If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Benfleet - 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’m about to sell my ground floor apartment in Benfleet.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just received a half-yearly maintenance charge demand – Do I pay up?
The sensible thing to do is 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 until 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. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.
What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Benfleet conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Benfleet conveyancing practice) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you speak with two or three firms including non Benfleet conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be of use:
- What volume of lease extensions has the firm completed in Benfleet in the last twenty four months?
Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the disposal of our £275000 flat in Benfleet in six days. The managing agents has quoted £384 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and 3 years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge such fees for a flat conveyance in Benfleet?
Benfleet conveyancing on leasehold flats usually involves the purchaser’s solicitor sending enquiries for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to address such questions the majority will be willing to assist. They are entitled charge a reasonable charge for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the information that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some cases it is above £800. The management information fee levied by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of rights and obligations in relation to administration charges, otherwise the invoice is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that you have no option but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to complete the sale of your home.
What makes a Benfleet lease unmortgageable?
Leasehold conveyancing in Benfleet is not unique. All leases are individual and legal mistakes in the legal wording can result in certain clauses are erroneous. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:
- Repairing obligations to or maintain elements of the building
- A duty to insure the building
- Clauses dealing with recovering service charges for expenditure on the building or common parts.
- Maintenance charge proportions which don’t add up to the correct percentage
A defective lease will likely cause problems when trying to sell a property as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. Yorkshire Building Society, Coventry Building Society, and Godiva Mortgages Ltd all have very detailed requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. Where a lender has been advised by their lawyers that the lease is defective they may refuse to provide security, obliging the purchaser to pull out.
I invested in buying a 1st floor flat in Benfleet, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. How much will my lease extension cost? Similar properties in Benfleet with over 90 years remaining are worth £248,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 yearly. The lease finishes on 21st October 2075
With just 54 years unexpired we estimate the premium for your lease extension to span between £29,500 and £34,000 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.
The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive investigations. You should not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.
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