Top Five Questions relating to Finchampstead leasehold conveyancing
I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Finchampstead. Before diving in I want to be sure as to the number of years remaining on the lease.
If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Finchampstead - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title.For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.
I only have Fifty years remaining on my lease in Finchampstead. I am keen to extend my lease but my landlord is missing. What are my options?
If you meet the appropriate requirements, 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 lengthened by the magistrate. You will be obliged to prove that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to track down the freeholder. On the whole an enquiry agent may be helpful to try and locate and prepare an expert document to be used as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer both on proving the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Finchampstead.
I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a couple of flats in Finchampstead which have about forty five years remaining on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?
There are plenty of short leases in Finchampstead. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a prescribed time frame. As a lease gets shorter the value of the lease reduces and it becomes more expensive to acquire a lease extension. For this reason it is generally wise to increase the term of the lease. Sometimes it is difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease as mortgage lenders may be reluctant to lend money on properties of this type. Lease extension can be a protracted process. We recommend you get professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this arena
I've recently bought a leasehold flat in Finchampstead. 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 owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure 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).
What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Finchampstead conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Finchampstead conveyancing practice) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you talk with several firms including non Finchampstead conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be useful:
- How familiar is the firm with lease extension legislation?
I acquired a 1 bedroom flat in Finchampstead, conveyancing was carried out in 2010. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Finchampstead with an extended lease are worth £200,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £50 yearly. The lease ceases on 21st October 2099
You have 78 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to span between £10,500 and £12,000 as well as costs.
The figure above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not move forward placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.
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