Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Bilston. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they are sending me a report next week. What should I be looking out for?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Bilston should include some of the following:

• You should be sent a copy of the lease

Defining your rights in relation to common areas in the block.E.G., does the lease grant a right of way over a path or staircase?

An explanation as to the provision in the lease to pay service charges - with regard to both the building, and the more general rights a leaseholder has

Repair and maintenance of the flat

The landlord’s rights to access the flat you be made aware that your landlord has rights of access and I know how much notice s/he must provide.

Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property and do you know what it means in practice?

What you can do if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Bilston please enquire of your conveyancer in ahead of your conveyancing in Bilston

I’m about to sell my ground floor apartment in Bilston.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just received a yearly maintenance charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

It best that you 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 managing agents 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.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to be perfect, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have since discovered that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Bilston. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been appointed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Bilston ?

Most houses in Bilston are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Bilston in which case you should be shopping around for a Bilston conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the landlord’spermission to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your conveyancer will report to you on the legal implications.

I own a leasehold flat in Bilston. Conveyancing and Santander mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1992. The conveyancing solicitor in Bilston who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to incur the fees of a Bilston conveyancing practitioner to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the sale of our £225000 garden flat in Bilston next Thursday . The managing agents has quoted £420 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and 3 years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge an administration fee for a flat conveyance in Bilston?

Bilston conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes typically involves administration charges invoiced by management companies :

• Addressing pre-contract enquiries
• Where consent is required before sale in Bilston
• Copies of the building insurance and schedule
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your lawyer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Bilston leasehold premises is £350. For Bilston 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 answers.

Bilston Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should consider before Purchasing

The answer will be useful as a) areas may cause problems for the block as the communal areas may start to deteriorate if maintenance remain unpaid b) if the tenants have an issue with the managing agents you will need to have all the details Does the lease include onerous restrictions? The best form of lease structure is a share of the freehold. In this arrangement the leaseholders benefit from being in charge if their destiny and although a managing agent is often retained where it is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Bilston