Experts for Leasehold Conveyancing in Heaton and Jesmond

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Heaton and Jesmond, you will need to instruct a conveyancing lawyer with leasehold experience. Whether your mortgage company is to be Santander, RBS or Nationwide make sure you find a lawyer on their panel. Feel free to use our search tool

Questions and Answers: Heaton and Jesmond leasehold conveyancing

Looking forward to complete next month on a leasehold property in Heaton and Jesmond. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they report fully next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • Defining your rights in respect of the communal areas in the building.For example, does the lease contain a right of way over an accessway or hallways?
  • Will you be prohibited or prevented from having pets in the property?
  • Whether the lease restricts you from renting out the property, or having a home office for business
  • 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 reserve fund?
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat For details of the information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Heaton and Jesmond please enquire of your lawyer in advance of your conveyancing in Heaton and Jesmond

    • Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my garden apartment in Heaton and Jesmond.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just received a half-yearly service charge demand – Do I pay up?

    The sensible thing to do is pay the invoice 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 until 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 own a leasehold flat in Heaton and Jesmond. Conveyancing and Skipton Building Society mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing solicitor in Heaton and Jesmond who acted for me is not around.Any advice?

    First contact the Land Registry to make sure that this person is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a Heaton and Jesmond conveyancing lawyer to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

    I've recently bought a leasehold flat in Heaton and Jesmond. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?

    In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

    If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

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

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Heaton and Jesmond can be avoided where you get in touch lawyers as soon as you market your property and request that they start to collate the leasehold information needed by the buyers solicitors.
    • If you have carried out any alterations to the residence would they have required Landlord’s approval? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Heaton and Jesmond leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord approving such works. Where you dont have the paperwork to hand do not contact the landlord without contacting your lawyer first.
  • Some Heaton and Jesmond 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 obtain financial (bank) and professional references. The bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying 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 service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their lawyers.
  • If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should ensure that you hold the original share document. Organising a new share certificate is often a lengthy formality and frustrates many a Heaton and Jesmond conveyancing deal. Where a reissued share is required, do contact the company officers or managing agents (where applicable) for this as soon as possible.
  • You believe that you know the number of years remaining on your lease but it would be wise to verify this via your lawyers. A buyer’s conveyancer will not be happy to advise their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the remaining number of years is under 75 years. It is therefore important at an early stage that you consider whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

    • Leasehold Conveyancing in Heaton and Jesmond - Sample of Questions you should ask before buying

      Does the lease contain onerous restrictions? Be sure to enquire if the the lease includes any adverse restrictions in the lease. For instance it is reasonably common in Heaton and Jesmond leases that pets are not allowed in in a block in Heaton and Jesmond. If you like the apartmentin Heaton and Jesmond however your dog is not allowed to move with you then you will be faced hard compromise. Is there a share of the freehold?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Heaton and Jesmond