Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Derby:

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Derby, you will need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Santander, Birmingham Midshires or Nationwide make sure you find a lawyer on their panel. Feel free to use our search tool

Derby leasehold conveyancing Example Support Desk Enquiries

Jane (my partner) and I may need to sub-let our Derby 1st floor flat for a while due to a new job. We instructed a Derby conveyancing firm in 2002 but they have since shut and we did not have the foresight to get any guidance as to whether the lease allows us to sublet. How do we find out?

Even though your previous Derby conveyancing lawyer is no longer available you can review your lease to check if it allows you to sublet the premises. The rule is that if the deeds are silent, subletting is permitted. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you need to obtain consent via your landlord or some other party in advance of subletting. The net result is you not allowed to sublet without prior permission. Such consent is not allowed to be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If your lease prohibits you from letting out the property you should ask your landlord for their consent.

Looking forward to exchange soon on a garden flat in Derby. Conveyancing solicitors inform me 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 Derby should include some of the following:

  • The physical extent of the property. This will be the flat itself but may include a roof space or basement if appropriate.
  • 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
  • Whether your lease has a provision for a sinking fund?
  • I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required
  • The landlord’s rights to access the flat you be made aware that your landlord has rights of access and I know how much notice s/he must provide.
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?
  • What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Derby please ask your lawyer in advance of your conveyancing in Derby

    • I’m about to sell my garden apartment in Derby.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just received a half-yearly service charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

    The sensible thing to do is 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

    My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Derby. Conveyancing and TSB mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1992. The conveyancing practitioner in Derby who previously acted has long since retired.What should I do?

    The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to instruct a Derby 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.

    I am attracted to a couple of flats in Derby both have in the region of 50 years remaining on the lease term. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

    A lease is a right to use the property for a period of time. As the lease shortens the value of the lease deteriorate and results in it becoming more expensive to extend the lease. For this reason it is generally wise to extend the lease term. More often than not it is difficult to sell a property with a short lease as mortgage lenders less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a difficult process. We advise that you get professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this area

    Derby Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should ask before buying

      Does the lease include onerous restrictions? You should be aware that where the lease has less than 80 years it will impact the marketability of the flat. It is worth checking with your mortgage company that they are willing to go ahead with the loan given the lease term. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will most likely require a lease extension sooner rather than later and it is worth finding out what this would cost. Remember, in most cases you would need to own the residence for a couple of years before you are eligible to exercise a lease extension. For many Derby leaseholds the cost for major works tend not to be included within maintenance charges, albeit that a few managing agents in Derby obliged leasehold owners to contribute towards a reserve fund created for the specific purpose of establishing a fund for major works.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Derby