Flint leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s
I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Flint. Before I get started I want to be sure as to the unexpired term of the lease.
If the lease is registered - and most are in Flint - 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 wish to let out my leasehold flat in Flint. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Do I need to ask my freeholder for permission?
A lease dictates the relationship between the landlord and you the flat owner; in particular, it will set out if subletting is not allowed, or permitted but only subject to certain conditions. The accepted inference is that if the lease contains no expres ban or restriction, subletting is allowed. Most leases in Flint do not contain an absolute prevention of subletting – such a clause would undoubtedly devalue the property. Instead, there is usually a basic requirement that the owner notifies the freeholder, possibly supplying a copy of the sublease.
I only have 62 years left on my flat in Flint. I now wish to get lease extension but my freeholder is absent. What should I do?
On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be lengthened by the Court. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you have used your best endeavours to locate the freeholder. In some cases a specialist may be helpful to conduct investigations and prepare an expert document which can be used as proof that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer in relation to devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Flint.
I have just started marketing my ground floor flat in Flint.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a quarterly service charge demand – what should I do?
The sensible thing to do is pay the service charge 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. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.
What advice can you give us when it comes to finding a Flint conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Flint conveyancing firm) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you talk with two or three firms including non Flint conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be of use:
- How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?
I inherited a leasehold flat in Flint, conveyancing formalities finalised 2003. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Comparable properties in Flint with a long lease are worth £212,000. The ground rent is £65 per annum. The lease finishes on 21st October 2079
You have 57 years unexpired we estimate the premium for your lease extension to span between £25,700 and £29,600 plus costs.
The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you the actual costs in the absence of comprehensive investigations. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There are no doubt additional concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.
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