Quality lawyers for Leasehold Conveyancing in Consett

Get a Quote

Need to find a solicitor for leasehold conveyancing in Consett on your lender’s panel? Use our search tool to find quality local Consett conveyancing practitioners or national solicitors on your lender’s panel .

Common questions relating to Consett leasehold conveyancing

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Consett. Before I get started I require certainty as to the remaining lease term.

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

Planning to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Consett. 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 Consett should include some of the following:

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • The length of the lease term You should be advised as what happens when the lease expires, and aware of the importance of not letting the lease term falling below eighty years
  • Will you be prohibited or prevented from having pets in the property?
  • An explanation as to the provision in the lease to pay service charges - with regard to both the building, and the more general rights a leaseholder has
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property 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? For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Consett please ask your solicitor in ahead of your conveyancing in Consett

    • I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to be perfect, at a great figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Consett. Conveyancing lawyers have are soon to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

    The majority of houses in Consett are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Consett so you should seriously consider looking for a Consett conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. 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 maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your solicitor should advise you fully on all the issues.

    Back In 2004, I bought a leasehold house in Consett. Conveyancing and National Westminster Bank mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the freehold. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing practitioner in Consett who previously acted has long since retired.What should I do?

    First make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that this person is in fact the new freeholder. It is not necessary to instruct a Consett conveyancing firm to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the rightful 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 Consett with the purpose of expediting the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Consett can be reduced if you instruct lawyers as soon as you market your property and request that they start to collate the leasehold information which will be required by the buyers conveyancers.
    • Many freeholders or managing agents in Consett charge for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the actual amount of the charges. The management information can be applied for as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Consett.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the property would they have required Landlord’s permission? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Consett state that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such works. Should you dont have the approvals to hand you should not communicate with the landlord without contacting your conveyancer first.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should make sure that you hold the original share document. Arranging a duplicate share certificate is often a lengthy formality and delays many a Consett conveyancing deal. Where a reissued share certificate is required, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (if relevant) for this as soon as possible.
  • You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to double-check via your lawyers. A purchaser's lawyer will not be happy to advise their client to to exchange contracts if the lease term is under 80 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 home on the market for sale.

    • I inherited a garden flat in Consett, conveyancing formalities finalised half a dozen years ago. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Equivalent flats in Consett with an extended lease are worth £175,000. The ground rent is £55 levied per year. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2104

    With only 79 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £9,500 and £11,000 plus costs.

    The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to supply a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Consett