Leasehold Conveyancing in Bridport - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

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Sample questions relating to Bridport leasehold conveyancing

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

A small minority of properties in Bridport do contain a provision to say that subletting is only permitted with prior consent from the landlord. The landlord is not entitled to 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.

Looking forward to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Bridport. Conveyancing lawyers assured me that they will have a report out to me within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • The length of the lease term You should be advised as what happens when the lease ends, and informed of the importance of not letting the lease term falling below eighty years
  • The total extent of the premises. This will be the property itself but may incorporate a loft or basement if applicable.
  • Setting out your rights in relation to common areas in the building.By way of example, does the lease grant a right of way over a path or hallways?
  • Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat?
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • 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.
  • Responsibility for repairing the window frames For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Bridport please enquire of your conveyancer in ahead of your conveyancing in Bridport

  • I am employed by a reputable estate agent office in Bridport where we have experienced a few flat sales jeopardised as a result of short leases. I have been given contradictory information from local Bridport conveyancing solicitors. Can you clarify whether the seller of a flat can start the lease extension process for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

    Provided that the seller has owned the lease for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to commence the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the buyer need not have to wait 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment needs to be completed before, or simultaneously with completion of the disposal of the property.

    Alternatively, it may be possible to extend the lease informally by agreement with the landlord either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.

    Can you offer any advice when it comes to choosing a Bridport conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

    When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Bridport conveyancing practice) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you make enquires with several firms including non Bridport conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be helpful:

    • Can they put you in touch with client in Bridport who can give a testimonial?
  • What are the legal fees for lease extension work?

  • Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Bridport from the perspective of expediting the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Bridport can be bypassed if you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and ask them to collate the leasehold information which will be required by the purchasers’ solicitors.
    • Some Bridport leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their lawyers.
  • If there is a history of conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are settled prior to the flat being put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be nervous about purchasing a flat where a dispute is ongoing. You will have to accept that you will have to pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as over rather than unresolved.
  • If you hold a share in a the freehold, you should ensure that you are holding the original share certificate. Obtaining a re-issued share certificate can be a lengthy formality and frustrates many a Bridport conveyancing transaction. Where a reissued share is needed, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.
  • You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to double-check by asking your conveyancers. A buyer’s lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the lease term is less than 75 years. In the circumstances it is important at an early stage that you identify whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

  • Leasehold Conveyancing in Bridport - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

      Best to be warned whether changing the roof or some other significant cost is coming up to be shared amongst the tenants and will materially increase the the maintenance fees or necessitate a specific payment. Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge liability? Please inform me if there are any major works in the planning that will likely add a premium to the service fees?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Bridport