I am on look out for some leasehold conveyancing in Haslington. Before diving in I want to be sure as to the remaining lease term.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Haslington - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title.For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

I've found a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a reasonable price which is making it more attractive. I have just discovered that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Haslington. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been appointed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Haslington ?

The majority of houses in Haslington are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Haslington so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Haslington conveyancing practitioner and be sure that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the freeholder’spermission to carry out changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your solicitor will appraise you on the various issues.

Back In 2002, I bought a leasehold flat in Haslington. Conveyancing and TSB mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1996. The conveyancing practitioner in Haslington who previously acted has long since retired.Any advice?

First make enquiries of HMLR to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to instruct a Haslington conveyancing solicitor to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

What advice can you give us when it comes to appointing a Haslington conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Haslington conveyancing practice) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you speak with two or three firms including non Haslington conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be useful:

• If the firm is not ALEP accredited then why not?

Completion in due on the sale of our £425000 flat in Haslington next week. The managing agents has quoted £336 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and previous years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a flat conveyance in Haslington?

Haslington conveyancing on leasehold flats normally involves the buyer’s lawyer sending enquiries for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address these enquiries most will be content to do so. They are entitled levy a reasonable charge for answering enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the information that you are referring to is £350, in some transactions it exceeds £800. The administration charge invoiced by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of entitlements and obligations in respect of administration fees, without which the charge is technically not due. In reality one has little option but to pay whatever is requested of you should you wish to complete the sale of your home.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Haslington - Sample of Queries Prior to Purchasing

You should be aware that where the lease has no more than eighty years it will have adverse implications on the salability of the flat. Check with your bank that they are willing to lend given the lease term. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will almost definitely require a lease extension at some point and it is worth finding out what this will be. For most Haslingtonlease extensions you will need to own the residence for two years in order to be entitled to exercise a lease extension. This question is important as a) areas may result in problems in the building as the communal areas may begin to deteriorate where services remain unpaid b) if the tenants have a dispute with the managing agents you will wish to know about it How many years remain on the lease?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Haslington