Leasehold Conveyancing in Filton - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

Get a Quote

Any conveyancing solicitor can theoretically deal with your leasehold conveyancing in Filton, your mortgage provider may not be willing to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Filton leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

Looking forward to sign contracts shortly on a leasehold property in Filton. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they report fully on Monday. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, landlord
  • Whether the lease restricts you from subletting the property, or having a home office for business
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this will change in the future
  • 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
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • Responsibility for repairing the window frames For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Filton please enquire of your solicitor in ahead of your conveyancing in Filton

    • I’m about to sell my garden flat in Filton.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just received a quarterly service charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

    The sensible thing to do is clear 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 unless 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 all the more appealing. I have subsequently discovered that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in Filton. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Filton ?

    The majority of houses in Filton are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Filton in which case you should be looking for a Filton conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to dealing with 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 to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example obtaining the freeholder’sconsent to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer should appraise you on the various issues.

    Back In 2002, I bought a leasehold flat in Filton. Conveyancing and The Mortgage Works mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing solicitor in Filton who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?

    The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. You do not need to instruct a Filton conveyancing solicitor to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

    I am a negotiator for a long established estate agency in Filton where we have witnessed a number of leasehold sales jeopardised due to short leases. I have received inconsistent advice from local Filton conveyancing firms. Please can you clarify whether the vendor of a flat can commence the lease extension formalities for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

    Provided that the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to commence the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. The benefit of this is that the buyer can avoid having to sit tight for 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment needs to be completed prior to, or simultaneously with completion of the sale.

    Alternatively, it may be possible to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.

    Filton Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Queries before buying

      Make sure you investigate if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. For example it is very common in Filton leases that pets are not allowed in in a block in Filton. If you like the flatin Filton however your dog can’t live with you then you will be presented with a difficult compromise. Best to be warned whether changing the roof or some other major work is due shortly to be shared between the leasehold owners and will materially impact the level of the maintenance costs or necessitate a one off payment. Is there a share of the freehold?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Filton