Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Blackburn. Before diving in I want to be sure as to the remaining lease term.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and almost all are in Blackburn - 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 am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to tick a lot of boxes, at a reasonable price which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently discovered that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns buying a leasehold house in Blackburn. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Blackburn are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Blackburn so you should seriously consider looking for a Blackburn conveyancing practitioner and check that they have experience in transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example obtaining the landlord’sconsent to conduct alterations. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the property is part of an estate. Your conveyancer will appraise you on the various issues.

I am attracted to a couple of flats in Blackburn which have approximately forty five years remaining on the lease term. Do I need to be concerned?

There are plenty of short leases in Blackburn. The lease is a right to use the premises for a prescribed time frame. As the lease gets shorter the value of the lease decreases and it becomes more expensive to acquire a lease extension. For this reason it is advisable to extend the lease term. It is often difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease because mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a protracted process. We recommend you get professional assistance from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this area

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Blackburn conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Blackburn conveyancing practice) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Blackburn conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be useful:

• If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Blackburn what are the most common lease defects?

There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in Blackburn. All leases is drafted differently and legal mistakes in the legal wording can result in certain sections are erroneous. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

• A provision to repair to or maintain parts of the premises
• Insurance obligations
• A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party.
• Service charge per centages that don't add up correctly leaving a shortfall

You may have a problem when selling your property if you have a defective lease primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. Barclays , Chelsea Building Society, and Alliance & Leicester 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 does not cover certain provisions they may refuse to grant the mortgage, forcing the buyer to pull out.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Blackburn - Examples of Questions you should ask before buying

Be sure to discover if the the lease contains any unreasonable restrictions in the lease. By way of example some leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Blackburn. If you like the propertyin Blackburn yet your cat is not allowed to live with you then you will be faced hard choice. It is important to be aware if window replacement or some other major work is coming up to be shared amongst the leasehold owners and may well dramatically increase the the service fees or result in a one time payment. How much is the ground rent and service charge?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Blackburn