Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Glenfield:

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Leasehold conveyancing in Glenfield is more complex than freehold. Your home move will be smoother where you choose a lawyer with a wealth of experience of leasehold conveyancing in Glenfield and across next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Common questions relating to Glenfield leasehold conveyancing

Expecting to exchange soon on a leasehold property in Glenfield. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they will have a report out to me tomorrow. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Glenfield should include some of the following:

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • Defining your legal entitlements in respect of the communal areas in the block.By way of example, does the lease grant a right of way over an accessway or hallways?
  • Does the lease prohibit wood flooring?
  • Will you be prohibited or prevented from having pets in the property?
  • You should have a good understanding of the insurance provisions
  • 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 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 a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Glenfield please enquire of your conveyancer in advance of your conveyancing in Glenfield

    • I have just appointed agents to market my garden flat in Glenfield.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a quarterly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

    Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

    I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns buying a leasehold house in Glenfield. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been appointed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Glenfield ?

    The majority of houses in Glenfield are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Glenfield so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Glenfield conveyancing practitioner and check that they have experience in dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions such as obtaining the landlord’spermission to conduct alterations. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your lawyer should appraise you on the various issues.

    Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Glenfield from the point of view of speeding up the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Glenfield can be bypassed where you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation which will be required by the buyers solicitors.
    • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s approval? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Glenfield leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. Where you fail to have the consents to hand you should not communicate with the landlord without contacting your lawyer in advance.
  • A minority of Glenfield leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet the yearly 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 actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
  • If you have had conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are settled before the property is put on the market. The buyers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where there is an ongoing dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and pay any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to present the dispute as historic as opposed to unresolved.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to verify this by asking your solicitors. A buyer’s lawyer will not be happy to advise their client to where the remaining number of years is less than 75 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an early stage that you consider whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

    • In relation to leasehold conveyancing in Glenfield what are the most common lease defects?

    Leasehold conveyancing in Glenfield is not unique. All leases are unique and legal mistakes in the legal wording can sometimes mean that certain sections are erroneous. For example, if your lease is missing any of the following, it could be defective:

    • Repairing obligations to or maintain parts of the property
    • Insurance obligations
    • A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party.
    • Service charge per centages that don't add up correctly leaving a shortfall

    A defective lease can cause issues when trying to sell a property primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. National Westminster Bank, The Mortgage Works, and Barclays Direct all have very detailed requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease does not cover certain provisions they may refuse to provide security, forcing the buyer to pull out.

    Glenfield Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

      On the whole the cost for major works are not incorporated into the maintenance charges, albeit that some managing agents in Glenfield obliged tenants to pay into a reserve fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for larger repairs or maintenance. How long is the Lease? Its a good idea to find out as much as possible regarding the managing agents as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. As the proprietor of a leasehold property you will be in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to day to day issues like the upkeep of the common parts. Enquire of other tenants what they think of their management. Finally, investigate as to the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Glenfield