You should [be sent a copy of the lease|receive a copy of the lease]

Due to exchange soon on a basement flat in Frenchay Common. Conveyancing lawyers assured me that they will have a report out to me next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

• Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, landlord
• Defining your rights in relation to common areas in the building.E.G., does the lease permit a right of way over an accessway or hallways?
• Does the lease require carpeting throughout thus preventing wood flooring?
• Whether the lease restricts you from renting out the flat, or having a home office for business
• Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this is subject to change
• Responsibility for repairing the window frames

For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Frenchay Common please ask your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in Frenchay Common

I’m about to sell my 2 bed apartment in Frenchay Common.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just received a quarterly service charge demand – what should I do?

The sensible thing to do is 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 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 tempted by the attractive purchase price for a two maisonettes in Frenchay Common both have approximately fifty years unexpired on the leases. Will this present a problem?

A 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 deteriorate and it becomes more costly to acquire a lease extension. For this reason it is generally wise to increase the term of the lease. It is often difficult to sell a property with a short lease as mortgage companies may be reluctant to lend money on properties of this type. Lease enfranchisement can be a protracted process. We recommend you get professional assistance from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this field

Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Frenchay Common conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Frenchay Common conveyancing practice) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you talk with several firms including non Frenchay Common conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be helpful:

• If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?
• How many lease extensions have they completed in Frenchay Common in the last twenty four months?

We expect to complete the disposal of our £ 425000 apartment in Frenchay Common next week. The freeholder has quoted £<Macro 'feeRangeWithVAT'> for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and previous years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Frenchay Common?

Frenchay Common conveyancing on leasehold apartments usually necessitates fees being raised by landlords agents :

• Answering pre-exchange enquiries
• Where consent is required before sale in Frenchay Common
• Supplying insurance information
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your solicitor will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Frenchay Common leasehold premises is £350. For Frenchay Common conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are obliged to provide answers.

Frenchay Common Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing

What is the length of the lease? Generally speaking the outlay for major works tend not to be included within maintenance charges, albeit that a few managing agents in Frenchay Common ask leasehold owners to contribute towards a sinking fund and this is used to offset against major repairs or maintenance.