Sample questions relating to Forest Row leasehold conveyancing
Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 72 years remaining on my flat in Forest Row. I need to extend my lease but my freeholder is can not be found. What are my options?
On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be lengthened by the magistrate. You will be obliged to prove that you have made all reasonable attempts to find the freeholder. For most situations an enquiry agent should be useful to carry out a search and prepare an expert document to be used as evidence that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on proving the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Forest Row.
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 just been informed that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues buying a leasehold house in Forest Row. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Forest Row ?
Most houses in Forest Row are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Forest Row so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Forest Row conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example obtaining the landlord’spermission to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your solicitor should advise you fully on all the issues.
My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Forest Row. Conveyancing and Barclays Direct mortgage went though with no issue. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing solicitor in Forest Row who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?
First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to instruct a Forest Row conveyancing solicitor to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.
I am a negotiator for a busy estate agency in Forest Row where we see a number of leasehold sales put at risk due to leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have received contradictory information from local Forest Row conveyancing firms. Please can you shed some light as to whether the seller of a flat can initiate the lease extension process for the buyer?
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. This means that the buyer can avoid having to wait 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 at the same time as completion of the disposal of the property.
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 purchaser.
Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on our sale of a £450000 maisonette in Forest Row next week. The landlords agents has quoted £324 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and previous years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Forest Row?
For the majority of leasehold sales in Forest Row conveyancing will involve, queries regarding the management of a building inevitably needing to be answered directly by the freeholder or its agent, this includes :
- Addressing pre-exchange questions
- Where consent is required before sale in Forest Row
- Supplying insurance information
- Deeds of covenant upon sale
- Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale
Forest Row Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing
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Most Forest Row leasehold apartments will incur a service charge for maintenance of the building levied on behalf of the landlord. Should you acquire the flat you will have to meet this liability, usually periodically during the year. This could vary from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large communal grounds. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge to be met yearly, this is usually not a exorbitant amount, say around £50-£100 but you should to check as on occasion it could be prohibitively expensive.
This information is useful as a) areas may result in problems in the block as the communal areas may begin to deteriorate if services remain unpaid b) if the leasehold owners have a dispute with the running of the building you will need to have full disclosure
Can you tell me if there are any major works in the near future that could increase the maintenance fees?
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