Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Burnham. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the remaining lease term.

If the lease is registered - and 99.9% are in Burnham - 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 today plan to offer on a house that seems to be perfect, at a reasonable figure which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently found out that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are issues buying a leasehold house in Burnham. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Burnham ?

The majority of houses in Burnham are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Burnham so you should seriously consider looking for a Burnham conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. 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 service charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your lawyer will report to you on the legal implications.

I own a leasehold house in Burnham. Conveyancing and The Royal Bank of Scotland mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1992. The conveyancing solicitor in Burnham who previously acted has now retired.What should I do?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to make sure that this person is in fact the new freeholder. You do not need to incur the fees of a Burnham conveyancing practitioner to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

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

When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Burnham conveyancing practice) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you talk with several firms including non Burnham 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 helpful:

• How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?
• Can they put you in touch with client in Burnham who can give a testimonial?

Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Burnham from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

• Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Burnham can be bypassed where you appoint lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to put together the leasehold information needed by the purchasers’ solicitors.
• Many freeholders or Management Companies in Burnham levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most frequent reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Burnham.
• In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Burnham leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence issued by the Landlord approving such works. Where you fail to have the approvals in place do not contact the landlord without contacting your lawyer in the first instance.
• If you have the benefit of shareholding in the freehold, you should ensure that you are holding the original share certificate. Arranging a re-issued share certificate can be a time consuming formality and slows down many a Burnham home move. If a reissued share certificate is needed, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity.
• You may think that you are aware of the number of years remaining on your lease but you should verify this by asking your conveyancers. A purchaser's conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the remaining number of years is under 75 years. In the circumstances it is important at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

Burnham Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

If a Burnham lease has no more than 80 years it will have adverse implications on the salability of the apartment. Check with your mortgage company that they are content with remaining years on the lease. A short lease means that you will probably need a lease extension sooner rather than later and it is worth finding out what this would cost. For most Burnhamlease extensions you would need to own the premises for 24 months in order to be eligible to extend the lease.