I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Cambridge. Before I set the wheels in motion I would like to find out the number of years remaining on the lease.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Cambridge - 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 would like to rent out my leasehold flat in Cambridge. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Do I need to ask my freeholder for permission?

Notwithstanding that your previous Cambridge conveyancing solicitor is not around you can check your lease to check if it allows you to sublet the property. The rule is that if the lease is non-specific, subletting is permitted. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you must obtain consent from your landlord or other appropriate person before subletting. The net result is that you cannot sublet in the absence of prior permission. The consent must not not be unreasonably withheld. If your lease does not allow you to sublet you should ask your landlord for their consent.

Looking forward to exchange soon on a garden flat in Cambridge. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they report fully within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

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

• The total extent of the property. This will be the apartment itself but might incorporate a roof space or cellar if applicable.
• Setting out your rights in respect of the communal areas in the building.For instance, does the lease permit a right of way over a path or hallways?
• Does the lease prohibit wood flooring?
• Will you be prohibited or prevented from having pets in the property?
• The landlord’s obligations to repair and maintain the building. It is important that you know who is responsible for the repair and maintenance of every part of the building
• What options are open to you if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease?

I've recently bought a leasehold house in Cambridge. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Cambridge conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

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

• If the firm is not ALEP accredited then why not?
• What are the legal fees for lease extension conveyancing?

I inherited a garden flat in Cambridge, conveyancing having been completed in 2006. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Cambridge with over 90 years remaining are worth £171,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £65 invoiced annually. The lease ends on 21st October 2089

With just 63 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £15,200 and £17,600 plus legals.

The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs in the absence of detailed due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be considered and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.