Frequently asked questions relating to Elland leasehold conveyancing
There are only 72 years left on my flat in Elland. I now wish to extend my lease but my landlord is absent. What are my options?
On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be granted an extra 90 years by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to track down the freeholder. For most situations a specialist may be useful to conduct investigations and prepare a report which can be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a conveyancer both on investigating the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court overseeing Elland.
Planning to exchange soon on a ground floor flat in Elland. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they report fully next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?
The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Elland should include some of the following:
- You should be sent a copy of the lease
I own a leasehold flat in Elland. Conveyancing and Skipton Building Society 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 1991. The conveyancing practitioner in Elland who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?
First contact HMLR to make sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to instruct a Elland conveyancing firm 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 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.
What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Elland conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Elland 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 speak with two or three firms including non Elland conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be useful:
- How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?
If all goes to plan we aim to complete our sale of a £225000 flat in Elland in just under a week. The management company has quoted £420 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and previous years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in Elland?
Elland conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes more often than not necessitates the purchaser’s conveyancer submitting enquiries for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is not legally bound to answer these enquiries 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 costs for the information that you are referring to is £350, in some cases it exceeds £800. The management information fee demanded by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration charges, without which the charge is technically not due. In reality one has no choice but to pay whatever is demanded should you wish to exchange contracts with the buyer.
I inherited a 1st floor flat in Elland, conveyancing having been completed 4 years ago. How much will my lease extension cost? Similar flats in Elland with an extended lease are worth £170,000. The ground rent is £60 invoiced annually. The lease finishes on 21st October 2096
With just 73 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £10,500 and £12,000 plus professional fees.
The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide a more accurate figure without more detailed investigations. Do 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 based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.
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