Leasehold Conveyancing in Crowborough - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

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Any conveyancing practice can theoretically deal with your leasehold conveyancing in Crowborough, your mortgage provider may unwilling to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Recently asked questions relating to Crowborough leasehold conveyancing

I’m about to sell my 2 bed flat in Crowborough.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just had a quarterly maintenance charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should discharge the service charge 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 until 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.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Crowborough. Conveyancing and Santander mortgage organised. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing practitioner in Crowborough who previously acted has now retired.Any advice?

First contact HMLR to make sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to incur the fees of a Crowborough conveyancing practitioner to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. You should note that in any event, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

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

When appointing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Crowborough conveyancing firm) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you speak with two or three firms including non Crowborough conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be of use:

  • Can they put you in touch with client in Crowborough who can give a testimonial?
  • What are the legal fees for lease extension work?

    • Do you have any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Crowborough from the point of view of speeding up the sale process?

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Crowborough can be avoided if you instruct lawyers the minute you market your property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information which will be required by the buyers conveyancers.
    • If you have carried out any alterations to the property would they have required Landlord’s permission? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Crowborough leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord consenting to such works. Where you fail to have the consents in place you should not communicate with the landlord without checking with your solicitor first.
  • Some Crowborough leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, you should place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. Any bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are able to meet 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 service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
  • If there is a history of conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where a dispute is unresolved. You will have to accept that you will have to pay any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as historic rather than unsettled.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should ensure that you are holding the original share document. Organising a new share certificate can be a lengthy formality and delays many a Crowborough conveyancing transaction. If a duplicate share certificate is needed, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this as soon as possible.

    • All being well we will complete our sale of a £125000 flat in Crowborough next Monday . The managing agents has quoted £324 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and previous years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a flat conveyance in Crowborough?

    Crowborough conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes normally requires the purchaser’s solicitor submitting enquiries for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to answer these enquiries most will be content to do so. They are entitled levy a reasonable administration fee for responding to enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average costs for the paperwork that you are referring to is £350, in some situations it is above £800. The administration charge invoiced by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration charges, otherwise the invoice is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that one has no option but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to exchange contracts with the buyer.

    Crowborough Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should consider before Purchasing

      You will want to find out as much as possible about the managing agents as they will either make living at the property much simpler or uncomfortable. As the proprietor of a leasehold property you are frequently at the mercy of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to daily matters such as the tidiness of the common parts. Ask prospective neighbours what they think of them. In conclusion, be sure you know the dates that you are obliged pay the maintenance charge to the managing agents and precisely how they are spending that money. Is anyone aware of any major works anticipated that will likely add a premium to the maintenance fees? Does the lease contain onerous restrictions?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Crowborough