Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Biggleswade:

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Biggleswade, you will need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Clydesdale , RBS or NatWest make sure you find a lawyer on their approved list. Find a Biggleswade conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Sample questions relating to Biggleswade leasehold conveyancing

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Biggleswade. Before diving in I want to be sure as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

Assuming the lease is registered - and almost all are in Biggleswade - 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.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 62 years left on my lease in Biggleswade. I now want to get lease extension but my landlord is missing. What options are available to me?

On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be extended by the Court. You will be obliged to prove that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to locate the freeholder. For most situations a specialist should be helpful to conduct investigations and prepare a report which can be used as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on devolving into the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Biggleswade.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to be perfect, at a great figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently been informed that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Biggleswade. Conveyancing solicitors have are soon to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Biggleswade ?

The majority of houses in Biggleswade are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Biggleswade so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Biggleswade conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions such as requiring the landlord’spermission to conduct alterations. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your solicitor will report to you on the legal implications.

I've recently bought a leasehold house in Biggleswade. Am I liable to pay 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. 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).

Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Biggleswade from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

  • Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Biggleswade can be bypassed where you get in touch lawyers as soon as you market your property and request that they start to collate the leasehold information needed by the buyers representatives.
  • The majority landlords or Management Companies in Biggleswade levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should discover the actual amount of the charges. The management pack can be applied for as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Biggleswade.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the property would they have required Landlord’s approval? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Biggleswade leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord consenting to such works. Should you fail to have the consents in place do not contact the landlord without checking with your conveyancer in advance.
  • If there is a history of conflict with your landlord or managing agents it is very important that these are settled before the property is marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be warry about purchasing a flat where there is an ongoing dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and discharge any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose details of the dispute to the buyers, but it is clearly preferable to present the dispute as historic rather than ongoing.
  • If you hold a share in a the freehold, you should ensure that you have the original share certificate. Arranging a duplicate share certificate is often a time consuming formality and delays many a Biggleswade home move. If a new share certificate is necessary, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (where applicable) for this as soon as possible.

    • Leasehold Conveyancing in Biggleswade - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

      What is the length of the lease? Who is in charge of the block? Many Biggleswade leasehold apartments will have a service bill for the upkeep of the building invoiced by the management company. Where you purchase the property you will have to meet this liability, usually periodically during the year. This can be anything from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large communal grounds. There will also be a rentcharge to be met annual, ordinarily this is not a significant amount, say around £50-£100 but you should to enquire it because sometimes it could be many hundreds of pounds.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Biggleswade