I only have Sixty One years unexpired on my lease in Buckley. I am keen to get lease extension but my freeholder is can not be found. What should I do?

If you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be extended by the Court. You will be obliged to prove that you have made all reasonable attempts to find the lessor. On the whole a specialist may be useful to carry out a search and to produce a report to be used as evidence that the freeholder can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a solicitor both on devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court overseeing Buckley.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a reasonable figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently discovered that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Buckley. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Buckley are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Buckley so you should seriously consider looking for a Buckley conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in transacting on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions such as obtaining the landlord’spermission to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer should report to you on the legal implications.

I am attracted to a couple of apartments in Buckley both have approximately 50 years unexpired on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

There are plenty of short leases in Buckley. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the premises for a period of time. As a lease gets shorter the saleability of the lease reduces and it becomes more costly to acquire a lease extension. This is why it is generally wise to increase the term of the lease. Sometimes it is difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease as mortgage lenders less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease extension can be a difficult process. We recommend you get professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this area

Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Buckley with the aim of expediting the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Buckley can be reduced if you instruct lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation which will be required by the purchasers’ conveyancers.
• Many freeholders or managing agents in Buckley levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the fee that they propose to charge. The management information sought on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Buckley.

If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s approval? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Buckley state that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord consenting to such changes. If you dont have the consents to hand you should not communicate with the landlord without contacting your solicitor first.

If you hold a share in a the freehold, you should ensure that you hold the original share certificate. Obtaining a re-issued share certificate is often a lengthy formality and slows down many a Buckley conveyancing transaction. If a reissued share certificate is necessary, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (if applicable) for this as soon as possible.

You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but it would be advisable double-check by asking your conveyancers. A purchaser's conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the remaining number of years is below 75 years. It is therefore essential at an as soon as possible that you consider whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

All being well we will complete our sale of a £200000 maisonette in Buckley on Tuesday in a week. The freeholder has quoted £408 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and 3 years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Buckley?

Buckley conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes usually results in administration charges raised by landlords agents :

• Addressing conveyancing due diligence enquiries
• Where consent is required before sale in Buckley
• Supplying insurance information
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your solicitor will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Buckley leasehold property is £350. For Buckley conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are required to provide the information.

Buckley Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries before Purchasing

It is important to be aware if changing the roof or some other significant cost is pending to be shared amongst the tenants and will dramatically impact the level of the service costs or require a specific payment. Is anyone aware of any major works anticipated that will likely add a premium to the service charges? How much is the yearly service fee and ground rent?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Buckley