Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Caernarfon:

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Leasehold conveyancing in Caernarfon is more complex than freehold. Your home move will be smoother where you choose a lawyer with a wealth of experience of leasehold conveyancing in Caernarfon and across next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Common questions relating to Caernarfon leasehold conveyancing

I have just started marketing my basement flat in Caernarfon.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just received a quarterly service charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should clear 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I've found a house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently discovered that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Caernarfon. Conveyancing solicitors have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Caernarfon 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 purchasing in Caernarfon so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Caernarfon 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 requiring the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your lawyer should appraise you on the various issues.

Back In 2000, I bought a leasehold house in Caernarfon. Conveyancing and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society mortgage are in place. 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 1993. The conveyancing practitioner in Caernarfon who acted for me is not around.What should I do?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to incur the fees of a Caernarfon conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

I am attracted to a couple of maisonettes in Caernarfon which have about forty five years unexpired on the leases. Will this present a problem?

There are plenty of short leases in Caernarfon. The lease is a right to use the property for a period of time. As a lease gets shorter the marketability of the lease reduces and it becomes more costly to acquire a lease extension. This is why it is advisable to increase the term of the lease. More often than not it is difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage lenders less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a difficult process. We recommend you get professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this arena

Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Caernarfon from the point of view of speeding up the sale process?

  • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Caernarfon can be bypassed where you instruct lawyers as soon as your agents start advertising the property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information which will be required by the buyers lawyers.
  • The majority freeholders or Management Companies in Caernarfon charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should discover the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack sought as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Caernarfon.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Caernarfon state that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord acquiescing to such works. If you dont have the approvals in place you should not communicate with the landlord without contacting your conveyancer before hand.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should ensure that you hold the original share certificate. Organising a duplicate share certificate is often a time consuming process and delays many a Caernarfon conveyancing deal. Where a new share certificate is necessary, do contact the company officers or managing agents (where relevant) for this as soon as possible.
  • You believe that you know the number of years remaining on your lease but it would be advisable verify this via your lawyers. A purchaser's conveyancer will not be happy to advise their client to where the remaining number of years is less than 75 years. In the circumstances it is important at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease term requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale.

    • Caernarfon Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should consider before buying

      Generally speaking the outlay for major works tend not to be included within maintenance charges, albeit that there some managing agents in Caernarfon obliged tenants to contribute towards a reserve fund created for the specific purpose of building a fund for larger works. How many years are left on the lease? What is the annual maintenance fee and ground rent?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Caernarfon