Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Gamlingay:

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Gamlingay, you will need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Santander, RBS or NatWest be sure to find a lawyer on their panel. Feel free to use our search tool

Frequently asked questions relating to Gamlingay leasehold conveyancing

Jane (my partner) and I may need to let out our Gamlingay 1st floor flat temporarily due to taking a sabbatical. We used a Gamlingay conveyancing practice in 2001 but they have closed and we did not think at the time seek any advice as to whether the lease prohibits the subletting of the flat. How do we find out?

A small minority of properties in Gamlingay do contain a provision to say that subletting is only allowed with permission. The landlord is not entitled to unreasonably withhold but, in such cases, they would need to see references. Experience suggests that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting consent.

Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Gamlingay. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they are sending me a report next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • The unexpired lease term You should be advised as what happens when the lease ends, and aware of the importance of the 80 year mark
  • Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat?
  • Whether the lease restricts you from renting out the property, or having a home office for business
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • The landlord’s rights to access the flat you be made aware that your landlord has rights of access and I know how much notice s/he must provide.
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?
  • The landlord’s obligations to repair and maintain the building. It is important that you know who is responsible for the repair and maintenance of every part of the building For details of the information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Gamlingay please ask your conveyancer in advance of your conveyancing in Gamlingay

    • I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a two apartments in Gamlingay which have approximately 50 years left on the lease term. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

    A lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a prescribed time frame. As the lease gets shorter the value of the lease reduces and results in it becoming more expensive to acquire a lease extension. For this reason it is often a good idea to extend the lease term. It is often difficult to sell a property with a short lease as mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on properties of this type. Lease enfranchisement can be a protracted process. We recommend you get professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this arena

    What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Gamlingay conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

    When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Gamlingay conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggested that you speak with two or three firms including non Gamlingay conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be of use:

    • How familiar is the firm with lease extension legislation?
  • What are the costs for lease extension work?

    • Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Gamlingay with the aim of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Gamlingay can be reduced where you appoint lawyers the minute your agents start advertising the property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation needed by the buyers lawyers.
    • Many freeholders or managing agents in Gamlingay levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should discover the fee that they propose to charge. The management information sought on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most common cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Gamlingay.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s permission? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Gamlingay state that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. Where you dont have the consents in place you should not communicate with the landlord without checking with your conveyancer in the first instance.
  • Some Gamlingay leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this is the case, it would be prudent to place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers obtain financial (bank) and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should ensure that you have the original share document. Organising a duplicate share certificate can be a time consuming formality and slows down many a Gamlingay home move. Where a duplicate share is required, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity.

    • Gamlingay Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

      The best form of lease structure is a share of the freehold. In this situation the tenants have control and notwithstanding that a managing agent is frequently retained where the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. How much is the annual service fee and ground rent? How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their maintenance charge payments?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Gamlingay