Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst:

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Leasehold conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst 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 Calcot and Tilehurst and across next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Questions and Answers: Calcot and Tilehurst leasehold conveyancing

Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and almost all are in Calcot and Tilehurst - 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.

Due to complete next month on a ground floor flat in Calcot and Tilehurst. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they report fully next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, landlord
  • Does the lease prevent you from subletting the property, or having a home office for business
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • 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
  • The landlord’s rights to access the flat you be made aware that your landlord has rights of access and I know how much notice s/he must provide.
  • What you can do if a neighbour is in violation of a provision in their lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Calcot and Tilehurst please ask your conveyancer in advance of your conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst

    • Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed apartment in Calcot and Tilehurst.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a half-yearly service charge invoice – what should I do?

    The sensible thing to do is clear the invoice 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.

    What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Calcot and Tilehurst conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

    When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Calcot and Tilehurst conveyancing practice) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you talk with several firms including non Calcot and Tilehurst conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be helpful:

    • How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?
  • How many lease extensions has the firm carried out in Calcot and Tilehurst in the last 12 months?

    • Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst with the purpose of speeding up the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst can be avoided where you instruct lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to put together the leasehold information needed by the buyers conveyancers.
    • If you have carried out any alterations to the residence would they have required Landlord’s permission? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Calcot and Tilehurst state that internal structural alterations or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence issued by the Landlord approving such alterations. If you fail to have the paperwork to hand you should not contact the landlord without checking with your solicitor before hand.
  • A minority of Calcot and Tilehurst leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, you should place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers put in hand bank and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their lawyers.
  • 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 flat where there is a current dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and pay any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to completion of the sale. 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 details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to present the dispute as over as opposed to ongoing.
  • You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but you should double-check by asking your solicitors. A purchaser's lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the lease term is below 75 years. It is therefore 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 home on the market for sale.

    • Leasehold Conveyancing in Calcot and Tilehurst - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

      How much is the maintenance charge and ground rent on the apartment? Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge payments? Its a good idea to find out as much as you can concerning the managing agents as they will either make your life much easier or uncomfortable. Being a leasehold owner you are frequently in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to every day matters such as the upkeep of the common parts. Don't be afraid to ask other tenants what they think of their service. Finally, find out the dates that the service fees are due to the relevant party and precisely what it includes.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Calcot and Tilehurst