There are only 72 years unexpired on my flat in Faringdon. I now want to extend my lease but my freeholder is absent. What options are available to me?

If you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be lengthened by the magistrate. You will be obliged to prove that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to locate the landlord. For most situations an enquiry agent should be helpful to try and locate and to produce a report to be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer in relation to investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Faringdon.

Planning to sign contracts shortly on a basement flat in Faringdon. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they are sending me a report on Monday. What should I be looking out for?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Faringdon should include some of the following:

• Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, landlord

I have just started marketing my basement flat in Faringdon.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a half-yearly maintenance charge demand – what should I do?

It best that you discharge 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to be perfect, at a great figure which is making it more attractive. I have just been informed that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Faringdon. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been appointed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Faringdon ?

The majority of houses in Faringdon are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Faringdon in which case you should be looking for a Faringdon conveyancing practitioner and be sure that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the freeholder’sconsent to conduct alterations. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is part of an estate. Your lawyer will advise you fully on all the issues.

We expect to complete our sale of a £450000 maisonette in Faringdon next week. The management company has quoted £312 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and 3 years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Faringdon?

Faringdon conveyancing on leasehold flats usually necessitates the purchaser’s conveyancer sending enquiries for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is not legally bound to address such questions most will be content to assist. They are entitled levy a reasonable administration fee for responding to questions 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 cases it exceeds £800. The administration charge required by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of entitlements and obligations in respect of administration fees, without which the invoice is technically not due. In reality you have little choice but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to complete the sale of your home.

Faringdon Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Queries Prior to Purchasing

Make sure you investigate if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. By way of example plenty of leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Faringdon. If you like the flatin Faringdon yet your dog can’t make the move with you then you have a very hard compromise. It is important to be aware if changing the roof or some other significant cost is due shortly that will be shared amongst the leasehold owners and may well materially impact the level of the maintenance charges or require a one off invoice. The majority of Faringdon leasehold properties will have a service bill for the upkeep of the block levied by the landlord. If you acquire the property you will have to meet this amount, usually quarterly throughout the year. This may be anything from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large communal areas. In all probability there will be a ground rent for you to pay yearly, this is usually not a significant amount, say about £25-£75 but you need to enquire it because on occasion it could be many hundreds of pounds.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Faringdon