Guaranteed fixed fees for Leasehold Conveyancing in Hackbridge

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While any conveyancing practice can theoretically handle your leasehold conveyancing in Hackbridge, your mortgage provider may unwilling to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Examples of recent questions relating to leasehold conveyancing in Hackbridge

My fiance and I may need to rent out our Hackbridge basement flat for a while due to a new job. We instructed a Hackbridge conveyancing practice in 2004 but they have since shut and we did not have the foresight to seek any advice as to whether the lease permits subletting. How do we find out?

Notwithstanding that your last Hackbridge conveyancing solicitor is no longer available you can check your lease to check if you are permitted to let out the apartment. The accepted inference is that if the deeds are silent, subletting is permitted. There may be a precondition that you need to obtain consent from your landlord or other appropriate person in advance of subletting. The net result is you not allowed to sublet without prior permission. The consent must not not be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If your lease prohibits you from subletting the property you will need to ask your landlord for their consent.

Looking forward to complete next month on a studio apartment in Hackbridge. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they will have a report out to me next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • Setting out your legal entitlements in relation to common areas in the block.For example, does the lease contain a right of way over a path or staircase?
  • You should be told what counts as a Nuisance in the lease
  • An explanation as to the provision in the lease to pay service charges - with regard to both the building, and the more general rights a leaseholder has
  • Whether your lease has a provision for a sinking fund?
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property and do you know what it means in practice?
  • What options are open to you if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Hackbridge please ask your conveyancer in advance of your conveyancing in Hackbridge

    • I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to meet my requirements, at a reasonable figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently discovered that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in Hackbridge. Conveyancing solicitors have are soon to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

    Most houses in Hackbridge are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Hackbridge in which case you should be shopping around for a Hackbridge conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions such as obtaining the freeholder’sconsent to carry out alterations. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your conveyancer should appraise you on the various issues.

    What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Hackbridge conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

    If you are instructing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Hackbridge conveyancing practice) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Hackbridge conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be useful:

    • How familiar is the practice with lease extension legislation?
  • What are the charges for lease extension work?

    • Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Hackbridge with the aim of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Hackbridge can be bypassed if you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and request that they start to put together the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ representatives.
    • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Hackbridge leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or addition of wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such works. Where you fail to have the paperwork to hand you should not contact the landlord without contacting your solicitor first.
  • If you have had any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are settled before the property is put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where there is a current dispute. You may have to bite the bullet and pay any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal details of the dispute to the buyers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as over rather than unsettled.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should make sure that you are holding the original share document. Arranging a new share certificate is often a lengthy process and delays many a Hackbridge home move. Where a duplicate share is needed, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (if relevant) for this as soon as possible.
  • You may think that you are aware of the number of years remaining on your lease but it would be wise to double-check via your solicitors. A buyer’s conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the remaining number of years is below 75 years. It is therefore important at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

    • Despite our best efforts, we have been unsuccessful in trying to purchase the freehold in Hackbridge. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?

    Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a Hackbridge conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Hackbridge residence is 21 & 23 Carshalton Grove in May 2009. the Tribunal adopted the figures presented as the premiums payable by the Applicant i.e. a total of £20,750. This case was in relation to 2 flats. The unexpired term was 72 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Hackbridge