Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Buckingham. Before I set the wheels in motion I want to be sure as to the unexpired term of the lease.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Buckingham - 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.

Planning to complete next month on a leasehold property in Buckingham. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they report fully within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Buckingham should include some of the following:

• Setting out your rights in relation to the communal areas in the block.For example, does the lease contain a right of way over an accessway or hallways?

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a reasonable figure which is making it more attractive. I have since discovered that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Buckingham. Conveyancing solicitors have are about to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Buckingham are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Buckingham in which case you should be looking for a Buckingham conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a leaseholder you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the freeholder’sconsent to conduct changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your conveyancer will report to you on the legal implications.

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

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

• If the firm is not ALEP accredited then why not?

Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the disposal of our £125000 flat in Buckingham next Wednesday . The freeholder has quoted £300 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and 3 years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Buckingham?

Buckingham conveyancing on leasehold apartments usually necessitates the buyer’s conveyancer submitting questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address these enquiries most will be content to do so. They are at liberty invoice a reasonable administration fee for responding to enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average costs for the paperwork that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some cases it is in excess of £800. The administration charge levied by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration fees, otherwise the invoice is technically not due. In reality one has no option but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to exchange contracts with the buyer.

I acquired a 2 bed flat in Buckingham, conveyancing formalities finalised 2000. How much will my lease extension cost? Equivalent flats in Buckingham with a long lease are worth £237,000. The ground rent is £65 per annum. The lease terminates on 21st October 2085

With 61 years left to run the likely cost is going to be between £19,000 and £22,000 plus legals.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs in the absence of detailed due diligence. You should not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Buckingham