Recently asked questions relating to Cheltenham leasehold conveyancing
I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Cheltenham. Before I get started I want to be sure as to the unexpired term of the lease.
If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Cheltenham - 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.
There are only 62 years unexpired on my flat in Cheltenham. I need to extend my lease but my landlord is absent. What should I do?
If you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be lengthened by the Court. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you have made all reasonable attempts to track down the landlord. For most situations a specialist may be useful to conduct investigations and to produce an expert document which can be used as evidence that the freeholder can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer in relation to investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Cheltenham.
Expecting to complete next month on a ground floor flat in Cheltenham. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they will have a report out to me tomorrow. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?
Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Cheltenham should include some of the following:
- Defining your rights in relation to the communal areas in the block.By way of example, does the lease contain a right of way over an accessway or staircase?
I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a reasonable price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Cheltenham. Conveyancing solicitors have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?
The majority of houses in Cheltenham are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are purchasing in Cheltenham in which case you should be shopping around for a Cheltenham conveyancing solicitor and check that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions such as obtaining the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your conveyancer should advise you fully on all the issues.
What makes a Cheltenham lease unmortgageable?
There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in Cheltenham. Most leases is drafted differently and legal mistakes in the legal wording can result in certain sections are not included. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:
- Repairing obligations to or maintain parts of the property
- A duty to insure the building
- A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party.
- Service charge per centages that don't add up correctly leaving a shortfall
A defective lease will likely cause problems when trying to sell a property as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. Accord Mortgages Ltd, Norwich and Peterborough Building Society, and Clydesdale all have very detailed conveyancing instructions when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease is defective they may refuse to provide security, forcing the buyer to pull out.
I own a basement flat in Cheltenham, conveyancing formalities finalised 9 years ago. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Equivalent flats in Cheltenham with over 90 years remaining are worth £185,000. The ground rent is £50 charged once a year. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2078
With 57 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to be between £23,800 and £27,400 as well as legals.
The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on the actual costs without more comprehensive due diligence. You should not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.
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