Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Dunstable:

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Leasehold conveyancing in Dunstable is more complex than freehold. Your home move will be smoother where you choose a lawyer with a wealth of experience of leasehold conveyancing in Dunstable and across next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Common questions relating to Dunstable leasehold conveyancing

Harry (my fiance) and I may need to let out our Dunstable ground floor flat for a while due to taking a sabbatical. We used a Dunstable conveyancing practice in 2003 but they have closed and we did not have the foresight to get any advice as to whether the lease prohibits the subletting of the flat. How do we find out?

Even though your last Dunstable conveyancing lawyer is not available you can review your lease to check if you are permitted to let out the apartment. The rule is that if the lease is non-specific, subletting is allowed. There may be a precondition that you must obtain consent via your landlord or other appropriate person in advance of subletting. The net result is that you cannot sublet in the absence of first obtaining permission. Such consent should not be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If the lease prohibits you from subletting the property you will need to ask your landlord for their consent.

Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Dunstable. Conveyancing lawyers assured me that they are sending me a report next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Dunstable should include some of the following:

  • Defining your legal entitlements in respect of common areas in the block.E.G., does the lease contain a right of way over a path or hallways?
  • Are pets allowed in the flat?
  • Whether the lease restricts you from letting out the property, or having a home office for business
  • 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
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • The landlord’s obligations to repair and maintain the building. It is important that you know who is responsible for the repair and maintenance of every part of the building
  • What options are open to you if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Dunstable please ask your lawyer in ahead of your conveyancing in Dunstable

    • I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a reasonable price which is making it more attractive. I have since discovered that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Dunstable. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

    The majority of houses in Dunstable are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Dunstable so you should seriously consider looking for a Dunstable conveyancing practitioner and check that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the freeholder’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your solicitor should appraise you on the various issues.

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

    When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Dunstable conveyancing practice) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you make enquires with several firms including non Dunstable conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be helpful:

    • How familiar is the practice with lease extension legislation?
  • If the firm is not ALEP accredited then why not?

    • Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Dunstable from the perspective of saving time on the sale process?

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Dunstable can be avoided if you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information which will be required by the purchasers’ conveyancers.
    • The majority freeholders or Management Companies in Dunstable levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack can be applied for as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Dunstable.
  • If there is a history of any disputes with your landlord or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved prior to the flat being put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be concerned about purchasing a property where there is an ongoing dispute. You may have to bite the bullet and pay any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to completion of the sale. 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 have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should make sure that you hold the original share document. Obtaining a re-issued share certificate can be a lengthy formality and slows down many a Dunstable conveyancing deal. If a new share is necessary, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (where relevant) for this sooner rather than later.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to verify this via your lawyers. A purchaser's lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the lease term is less than 80 years. It is therefore important at an as soon as possible that you consider whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

    • Dunstable Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries Prior to buying

      What is the name of the managing agents? How much is the annual maintenance fee and ground rent? What is the the remaining lease term?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Dunstable