I am on look out for some leasehold conveyancing in Bury St Edmunds. Before I set the wheels in motion I would like to find out the remaining lease term.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Bury St Edmunds - 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.

Looking forward to sign contracts shortly on a garden flat in Bury St Edmunds. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they are sending me a report tomorrow. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

• The total extent of the property. This will be the apartment itself but might include a loft or cellar if applicable.

I have just appointed agents to market my 2 bed apartment in Bury St Edmunds.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a half-yearly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

The sensible thing to do is pay the service charge 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. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a great figure which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently discovered that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns buying a leasehold house in Bury St Edmunds. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Bury St Edmunds are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Bury St Edmunds in which case you should be shopping around for a Bury St Edmunds conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions such as requiring the freeholder’spermission to conduct changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the house is located on an estate. Your conveyancer should report to you on the legal implications.

Completion in due on the disposal of our £300000 maisonette in Bury St Edmunds in nine days. The managing agents has quoted £384 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge an administration fee for a flat conveyance in Bury St Edmunds?

Bury St Edmunds conveyancing on leasehold flats more often than not necessitates the buyer’s solicitor sending questions for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is not legally bound to answer these enquiries the majority will be willing to do so. They are at liberty levy a reasonable charge for answering enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average costs for the information that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some transactions it is in excess of £800. The administration charge required by the landlord must be accompanied by a synopsis of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration fees, without which the invoice is technically not due. In reality you have little choice but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to complete the sale of your home.

Bury St Edmunds Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries before buying

How is the lease structured? Best to be warned if changing the roof or some other significant cost is pending that will be shared between the leasehold owners and could well dramatically increase the the maintenance costs or require a specific invoice. Where a Bury St Edmunds lease has fewer than eighty years it will have adverse implications on the marketability of the apartment. It is worth checking with your lender that they are willing to to proceed given the lease term. A short lease means that you will most likely require a lease extension at some point and it is worth finding out how much this will be. For most Bury St Edmundslease extensions you would need to own the premises for two years before you are entitled to extend the lease.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Bury St Edmunds