I’m about to sell my 2 bed apartment in Failsworth.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a quarterly service charge invoice – Do I pay up?

It best that you pay the invoice 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.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to be perfect, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have since discovered that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Failsworth. Conveyancing solicitors have are about to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Failsworth ?

The majority of houses in Failsworth are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Failsworth so you should seriously consider looking for a Failsworth conveyancing solicitor 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. As a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example obtaining the freeholder’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the property is located on an estate. Your conveyancer should report to you on the legal implications.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Failsworth. Conveyancing and Barclays Direct mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1996. The conveyancing solicitor in Failsworth who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?

The first thing you should do is contact the Land Registry to be sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. You do not need to incur the fees of a Failsworth conveyancing practitioner to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to choosing a Failsworth conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Failsworth conveyancing firm) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Failsworth conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be useful:

• Can they put you in touch with client in Failsworth who can give a testimonial?

Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the disposal of our £325000 apartment in Failsworth in six days. The freeholder has quoted £372 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and previous years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in Failsworth?

Failsworth conveyancing on leasehold apartments often requires the buyer’s conveyancer sending questions for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address such questions most will be willing to do so. They may charge a reasonable charge for answering 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 situations it exceeds £800. The administration charge invoiced by the landlord must be accompanied by a summary of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration charges, without which the invoice is not strictly payable. In reality you have little option but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to sell the property.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Failsworth - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

If a Failsworth lease has no more than eighty years it will affect the value of the property. Check with your bank that they are content with residual term of the lease. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will almost definitely have to extend the lease sooner rather than later and it is worth discovering how much this would cost. For most Failsworthlease extensions you will be required to have owned the premises for 24 months before you are entitled to extend the lease. How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments? On the whole the outlay for major works are not wrapped into the maintenance charges, albeit that a few managing agents in Failsworth ask leasehold owners to pay into a sinking fund and this is used to offset against larger works.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Failsworth