I would like to let out my leasehold apartment in Blyth. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask him. Is permission from the freeholder required?

Some leases for properties in Blyth do contain a provision to say that subletting is only permitted with prior consent from the landlord. The landlord cannot unreasonably withhold but, in such cases, they would need to review references. Experience dictates that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting consent.

I only have Fifty years remaining on my flat in Blyth. I am keen to get lease extension but my freeholder 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 apply to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the Court. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you have done all that could be expected to find the freeholder. For most situations a specialist would be useful to carry out a search and to produce a report to be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a solicitor in relation to proving the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Blyth.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have just been informed that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Blyth. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Blyth ?

The majority of houses in Blyth are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Blyth so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Blyth conveyancing practitioner and check that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being 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 freeholder’spermission to conduct alterations. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the estate where the property is located on an estate. Your lawyer will advise you fully on all the issues.

I've recently bought a leasehold property in Blyth. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee 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 ensure 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).

What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Blyth conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Blyth conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you talk with two or three firms including non Blyth conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be helpful:

• What volume of lease extensions have they completed in Blyth in the last twenty four months?

Blyth Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Queries Prior to buying

This information is useful as a) areas can cause problems in the building as the communal areas may start to deteriorate where maintenance remain unpaid b) if the leasehold owners have an issue with the running of the building you will need to have all the details Generally speaking the outlay for major works are not incorporated into the maintenance charges, although a few managing agents in Blyth obliged tenants to contribute towards a reserve fund and this is used to offset against larger repairs or maintenance. Many Blyth leasehold flats will incur a service charge for the upkeep of the block set on behalf of the management company. If you acquire the apartment you will have to meet this amount, usually in instalments during the year. This could differ from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for bigger purpose-built blocks. There will also be a ground rent to be met yearly, this is usually not a significant figure, say approximately £50-£100 but you should to enquire as on occasion it can be many hundreds of pounds.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Blyth