Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Chatteris:

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While any conveyancing practice can theoretically handle your leasehold conveyancing in Chatteris, your mortgage provider may not be willing to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Examples of recent questions relating to leasehold conveyancing in Chatteris

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Chatteris. Before I set the wheels in motion I want to be sure as to the unexpired term of the lease.

Assuming the lease is registered - and most are in Chatteris - 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.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 68 years unexpired on my flat in Chatteris. I need to get lease extension but my freeholder is absent. What are my options?

If you meet the appropriate requirements, 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 extended by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you have used your best endeavours to track down the freeholder. In some cases an enquiry agent should be useful to carry out a search and prepare an expert document which can be accepted by the court as proof that the freeholder can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer in relation to investigating the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court overseeing Chatteris.

Planning to sign contracts shortly on a basement flat in Chatteris. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they are sending me a report within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • The length of the lease term You should be advised as what happens when the lease ends, and informed of the importance of the 80 year mark
  • The total extent of the property. This will be the apartment itself but could also include a loft or basement if appropriate.
  • Defining your legal entitlements in respect of the communal areas in the block.E.G., does the lease grant a right of way over a path or staircase?
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?
  • What you can do if a neighbour is in violation of a provision in their lease?
  • What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Chatteris please ask your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in Chatteris

    • I am employed by a busy estate agent office in Chatteris where we have experienced a number of flat sales derailed as a result of short leases. I have been given inconsistent advice from local Chatteris conveyancing firms. Please can you clarify whether the owner of a flat can start the lease extension process for the buyer?

    Provided that the seller has owned the lease for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to commence the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the proposed purchaser can avoid having to wait 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done before, or at the same time as completion of the disposal of the property.

    An alternative approach is to extend the lease informally by agreement with the landlord either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the purchaser.

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

    When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Chatteris conveyancing practice) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Chatteris 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 helpful:

    • How experienced is the firm with lease extension legislation?
  • How many lease extensions has the firm carried out in Chatteris in the last year?

    • Leasehold Conveyancing in Chatteris - A selection of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

      How much is the yearly maintenance fee and ground rent? Where a Chatteris lease has no more than 80 years it will affect the value of the apartment. Check with your lender that they are willing to lend given the lease term. A short lease means that you will almost definitely have to extend the lease sooner rather than later and you need to have some idea of how much this would cost. For most Chatterislease extensions you would be be obliged to have owned the premises for two years before you are eligible to extend the lease. Who is in charge of the building?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Chatteris