Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Gamlingay:

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Gamlingay, you will need to chose a conveyancing solicitor with leasehold experience. Whether your mortgage company is to be Halifax, RBS or Nationwide make sure you choose a lawyer on their panel. Feel free to use our search tool

Gamlingay leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Sixty One years remaining on my flat in Gamlingay. I am keen to extend my lease but my landlord is can not be found. What options are available to me?

If you qualify, 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 Court. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to locate the lessor. In some cases a specialist may be useful to try and locate and to produce an expert document which can be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a solicitor both on devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Gamlingay.

Due to complete next month on a leasehold property in Gamlingay. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they will have a report out to me on Monday. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • The total extent of the premises. This will be the flat itself but may include a roof space or basement if applicable.
  • Defining your rights in respect of the communal areas in the block.For instance, does the lease grant a right of way over an accessway or staircase?
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Responsibility for repairing the window frames For details of the information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Gamlingay please ask your solicitor in ahead of your conveyancing in Gamlingay

    • Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my basement apartment in Gamlingay.Conveyancing is yet to be initiated but I have just had a half-yearly service charge invoice – Do I pay up?

    Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should clear 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 management companies will not acknowledge the buyer until 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.

    I own a leasehold flat in Gamlingay. Conveyancing and Virgin Money mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the freehold. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing practitioner in Gamlingay who previously acted has now retired.Do I pay?

    The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to make sure that this person is in fact the new freeholder. You do not need to instruct a Gamlingay conveyancing practitioner to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

    I've recently bought a leasehold house in Gamlingay. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before my ownership?

    In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee 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).

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

      Who takes responsibility for maintaining and repairing the block? What restrictions are contained in the Gamlingay Lease? Please note that where the lease has fewer than 80 years it will affect the value of the property. Check with your lender that they are willing to go ahead with the loan given the lease term. A short lease means that you will most likely require a lease extension sooner rather than later and you need to have some idea of how much this will be. Remember, in most cases you would be required to have been the owner of the residence for 24 months before you are eligible to extend the lease.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Gamlingay