East Beckton leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s
I would like to let out my leasehold apartment in East Beckton. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask him. Do I need to ask my freeholder for their consent?
Your lease governs relations between the landlord and you the flat owner; specifically, it will say if subletting is prohibited, or permitted but only subject to certain conditions. The rule is that if the lease contains no expres ban or restriction, subletting is allowed. The majority of leases in East Beckton do not contain an absolute prevention of subletting – such a clause would adversely affect the market value the flat. Instead, there is usually simply a requirement that the owner notifies the freeholder, possibly sending a copy of the sublease.
Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Fifty years left on my flat in East Beckton. I now want to get lease extension but my freeholder is can not be found. What are my options?
On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to find the landlord. For most situations an enquiry agent may be useful to try and locate and to produce a report which can be used as proof that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a solicitor in relation to proving the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court covering East Beckton.
I've recently bought a leasehold flat in East Beckton. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?
Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in East Beckton with the aim of expediting the sale process?
- Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in East Beckton can be bypassed if you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold information needed by the buyers lawyers.
- In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s permission? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? East Beckton leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord approving such works. Where you dont have the paperwork to hand do not contact the landlord without checking with your solicitor first.
Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the disposal of our £200000 apartment in East Beckton next Wednesday . The landlords agents has quoted £300 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and previous years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in East Beckton?
East Beckton conveyancing on leasehold flats often involves the purchaser’s solicitor submitting questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to answer such questions most will be willing to assist. They may levy a reasonable administration fee for responding to enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the information that you are referring to is £350, in some transactions it is in excess of £800. The management information fee invoiced by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of rights and obligations in relation to administration fees, otherwise the charge is technically not due. Reality however dictates that you have little option but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to exchange contracts with the buyer.
Despite our best endeavours, we have been unsuccessful in trying to purchase the freehold in East Beckton. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?
You certainly can. We can put you in touch with a East Beckton conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a East Beckton residence is 46 Credon Road in January 2014. On 11 September 2013 Deputy District Judge Price sitting at the Bow County Court made a vesting order that the freeholder surrender his lease and be granted a new lease of the Premises on such terms as may be determined by the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).The appropriate sum as concluded by the Tribunal was £7225 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The the unexpired term as at the valuation date was 69.77 years.
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