Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Borrowash. Before diving in I require certainty as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

If the lease is registered - and most are in Borrowash - 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 basement flat in Borrowash.Conveyancing is yet to be initiated but I have just had a half-yearly service charge invoice – 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 managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to tick a lot of boxes, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have since discovered that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns buying a house with a leasehold title in Borrowash. Conveyancing solicitors have are soon to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Borrowash are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Borrowash in which case you should be looking for a Borrowash conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a leaseholder you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the landlord’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your solicitor will report to you on the legal implications.

I am attracted to a two apartments in Borrowash both have approximately fifty years left on the lease term. Will this present a problem?

There are plenty of short leases in Borrowash. The lease is a right to use the premises for a prescribed time frame. As a lease gets shorter the value of the lease decreases and it becomes more costly to acquire a lease extension. This is why it is often a good idea to extend the lease term. Sometimes it is difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage lenders may be unwilling to lend money on properties of this type. Lease enfranchisement can be a protracted process. We recommend you seek professional assistance from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this arena

What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Borrowash conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Borrowash conveyancing firm) it is most important 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 Borrowash conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be of use:

• How experienced is the firm with lease extension legislation?

Leasehold Conveyancing in Borrowash - Sample of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

The best form of lease arrangement is where the freehold interest is in the ownership of the leaseholders. In this scenario the lessees enjoy control and even though a managing agent is often employed where the building is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. Most Borrowash leasehold flats will incur a service charge for maintenance of the block levied by the management company. Should you acquire the flat you will have to meet this liability, normally quarterly during the year. This could differ from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large communal grounds. There will also be a ground rent for you to pay yearly, ordinarily this is not a large amount, say approximately £50-£100 but you need to check as occasionally it can be many hundreds of pounds. Are there any major works on the horizon that could add a premium to the service fees?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Borrowash