Leasehold Conveyancing in Calcot - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

Get a Quote

While any conveyancing solicitor can theoretically deal with your leasehold conveyancing in Calcot, your mortgage provider may unwilling to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Top Five Questions relating to Calcot leasehold conveyancing

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 68 years unexpired on my lease in Calcot. I now wish to extend my lease but my landlord is absent. What should I do?

On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be granted an extra 90 years by the Court. However, you will be required to prove that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to locate the freeholder. In some cases a specialist should be helpful to try and locate and to produce a report which can be used as evidence that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court overseeing Calcot.

Looking forward to complete next month on a studio apartment in Calcot. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they are sending me a report tomorrow. What should I be looking out for?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Calcot should include some of the following:

  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, freeholder
  • Does the lease prevent you from renting out the property, or having a home office for business
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?
  • What options are open to you if a neighbour is in violation of a provision in their lease? For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Calcot please ask your conveyancer in advance of your conveyancing in Calcot

    • I've found a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a reasonable figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns buying a leasehold house in Calcot. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

    Most houses in Calcot are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Calcot so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Calcot conveyancing solicitor and check that they have experience in dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the freeholder’sconsent to conduct alterations. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is part of an estate. Your solicitor will appraise you on the various issues.

    My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Calcot. Conveyancing and Santander mortgage organised. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1997. The conveyancing practitioner in Calcot who previously acted has now retired.Do I pay?

    The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is indeed the new freeholder. You do not need to incur the fees of a Calcot conveyancing practitioner to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for £3. 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.

    Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Calcot with the aim of speeding up the sale process?

    • Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Calcot can be bypassed if you get in touch lawyers as soon as your agents start advertising the property and request that they start to collate the leasehold information which will be required by the buyers representatives.
    • If you have carried out any alterations to the property would they have required Landlord’s permission? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Calcot leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or laying down wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord approving such alterations. If you fail to have the paperwork to hand you should not communicate with the landlord without checking with your conveyancer in the first instance.
  • If you have had any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are settled prior to the flat being marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where there is an ongoing dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal particulars of the dispute to the buyers, but it is clearly preferable to present the dispute as over rather than unsettled.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should ensure that you are holding the original share document. Obtaining a replacement share certificate is often a lengthy process and frustrates many a Calcot home move. Where a reissued share certificate is necessary, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.
  • You believe that you know the number of years remaining on your lease but it would be wise to verify this via your solicitors. A buyer’s conveyancer will not be happy to advise their client to to exchange contracts if the remaining number of years is under 75 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

    • Leasehold Conveyancing in Calcot - Examples of Questions you should ask Prior to buying

      The answer will be useful as a) areas can cause problems for the block as the common areas may begin to deteriorate if maintenance are not paid for b) if the leasehold owners have an issue with the managing agents you will wish to know about it The prefered form of lease structure is a share of the freehold. In this arrangement the tenants enjoy being in charge if their destiny and although a managing agent is frequently employed where the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. It would be prudent to discover if there are any onerous restrictions in the lease. For example some leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Calcot. If you love the flatin Calcot but your cat is not allowed to live with you then you will be presented with a difficult choice.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Calcot