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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Hartlepool, you will need to chose a conveyancing solicitor with leasehold experience. Whether your mortgage company is to be Halifax, Birmingham Midshires or Nationwide be sure to choose a lawyer on their approved list. Find a Hartlepool conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Recently asked questions relating to Hartlepool leasehold conveyancing

My wife and I may need to rent out our Hartlepool basement flat for a while due to a new job. We used a Hartlepool conveyancing practice in 2002 but they have closed and we did not think at the time seek any guidance as to whether the lease permits subletting. How do we find out?

Even though your last Hartlepool conveyancing solicitor is not available you can review your lease to check if you are permitted to let out the premises. The accepted inference is that if the deeds are silent, subletting is permitted. There may be a precondition that you must obtain consent via your landlord or other appropriate person before subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet without first obtaining permission. Such consent should not be unreasonably turned down. If the lease does not allow you to sublet you will need to ask your landlord if they are willing to waive this restriction.

Expecting to complete next month on a leasehold property in Hartlepool. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they are sending me a report next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • The physical extent of the demise. This will be the apartment itself but might incorporate a loft or basement if applicable.
  • Will you be prohibited or prevented from having pets in the property?
  • Whether the lease restricts you from renting out the flat, or having a home office for business
  • 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 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.
  • What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For details of the information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Hartlepool please enquire of your solicitor in ahead of your conveyancing in Hartlepool

    • Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Hartlepool conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

    If you are instructing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Hartlepool conveyancing practice) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggested that you make enquires with several firms including non Hartlepool conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be helpful:

    • How experienced 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 Hartlepool from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

    • Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Hartlepool can be avoided where you appoint lawyers the minute your agents start advertising the property and ask them to collate the leasehold information needed by the purchasers’ solicitors.
    • Many freeholders or managing agents in Hartlepool charge for providing management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should find out the actual amount of the charges. The management pack sought on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Hartlepool.
  • A minority of Hartlepool leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this is the case, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers put in hand bank and professional references. The 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 buyers or their lawyers.
  • If there is a history of any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are settled before the property is marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be concerned about purchasing a property where there is a current dispute. You may have to bite the bullet and discharge 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 ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as historic rather than ongoing.
  • If you hold a share in a the freehold, you should make sure that you hold the original share document. Organising a re-issued share certificate is often a time consuming formality and delays many a Hartlepool home move. Where a duplicate share certificate is necessary, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where relevant) for this sooner rather than later.

    • If all goes to plan we aim to complete our sale of a £225000 maisonette in Hartlepool next week. The landlords agents has quoted £396 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and previous years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge an administration fee for a flat conveyance in Hartlepool?

    Hartlepool conveyancing on leasehold flats usually necessitates the buyer’s solicitor sending questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address such questions the majority will be content to do so. They are at liberty levy a reasonable administration fee for responding to enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average fee for the paperwork that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some situations it is in excess of £800. The administration charge required by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of entitlements and obligations in respect of administration fees, otherwise the invoice is technically not due. Reality however dictates that you have no option but to pay whatever is requested of you should you wish to exchange contracts with the buyer.

    Leasehold Conveyancing in Hartlepool - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

      What restrictions exist in the Hartlepool Lease? Be sure to investigate if there are any onerous restrictions in the lease. For instance plenty of leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Hartlepool. If you like the propertyin Hartlepool yet your dog can’t make the move with you then you will be faced hard compromise. Plenty Hartlepool leasehold flats will have a service charge for maintenance of the block levied on behalf of the landlord. If you acquire the apartment you will have to meet this liability, normally periodically during the year. This may be anything from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built buildings. In all likelihood there will be a ground rent to be met annual, this is usually not a significant figure, say approximately £50-£100 but you should to check as on occasion it can be many hundreds of pounds.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Hartlepool