Experts for Leasehold Conveyancing in Hartlepool

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

Questions and Answers: Hartlepool leasehold conveyancing

I only have 68 years left on my lease in Hartlepool. I now wish to extend my lease but my landlord is missing. What options are available to me?

On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the Court. However, you will be required to prove that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to track down the landlord. For most situations an enquiry agent would be useful to carry out a search and prepare a report which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a solicitor in relation to investigating the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Hartlepool.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed flat in Hartlepool.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just had a half-yearly 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. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to meet my requirements, at a reasonable figure which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently discovered that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Hartlepool. Conveyancing solicitors have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Hartlepool are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Hartlepool so you should seriously consider looking for a Hartlepool conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. 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 freeholder’spermission to conduct alterations. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the property is located on an estate. Your solicitor will report to you on the legal implications.

I am attracted to a two apartments in Hartlepool which have approximately forty five years remaining on the lease term. Do I need to be concerned?

A lease is a right to use the premises for a prescribed time frame. As the lease gets shorter the value of the lease reduces and it becomes more costly to extend the lease. This is why it is advisable to increase the term of the lease. Sometimes it is difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease as mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on properties of this type. Lease extension can be a difficult process. We recommend you get professional help from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this area

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Hartlepool with the intention of saving time on the sale process?

  • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Hartlepool can be bypassed if you appoint lawyers as soon as you market your property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ lawyers.
  • The majority freeholders or managing agents in Hartlepool levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack can be applied for as soon as you have 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 delay in leasehold conveyancing in Hartlepool.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s permission? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Hartlepool state that internal structural alterations or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord approving such alterations. Should you fail to have the paperwork to hand you should not communicate with the landlord without contacting your conveyancer before hand.
  • A minority of Hartlepool leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, you should place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers put in hand 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 actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
  • If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should ensure that you hold the original share document. Organising a replacement share certificate is often a lengthy formality and frustrates many a Hartlepool conveyancing deal. Where a reissued share certificate is needed, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.

    • Hartlepool Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

      Please note if it is less than 80 years it will have adverse implications on the marketability of the flat. Check with your lender that they are willing to to proceed given the lease term. A short lease means that you will almost definitely have to extend the lease sooner rather than later and it is worth finding out what this will be. Remember, in most cases you will need to own the property for 24 months before you are legally able to extend the lease. How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their maintenance charge payments? How many years are left on the lease?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Hartlepool