Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Henfield:

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

Top Five Questions relating to Henfield leasehold conveyancing

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Henfield. Before I get started I would like to find out the unexpired term of the lease.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and almost all are in Henfield - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars 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.

Looking forward to sign contracts shortly on a basement flat in Henfield. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they report fully within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, landlord
  • The physical extent of the premises. This will be the property itself but may incorporate a loft or cellar if appropriate.
  • You should be told what counts as a Nuisance in the lease
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this is subject to change
  • 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
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Henfield please enquire of your conveyancer in ahead of your conveyancing in Henfield

    • I have just started marketing my garden apartment in Henfield.Conveyancing is yet to be initiated but I have just received a half-yearly service charge invoice – what should I do?

    The sensible thing to do is discharge 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 management companies 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

    I've found a house that appears to meet my requirements, at a reasonable price which is making it more attractive. I have since discovered that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are issues buying a house with a leasehold title in Henfield. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?

    The majority of houses in Henfield are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are purchasing in Henfield in which case you should be shopping around for a Henfield conveyancing practitioner and be sure that they have experience in dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a tenant you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer will appraise you on the various issues.

    Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Henfield from the perspective of speeding up the sale process?

    • Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Henfield can be reduced where you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information needed by the buyers solicitors.
    • Many freeholders or managing agents in Henfield charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should discover the fee that they propose to charge. The management information 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 frequent cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Henfield.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Henfield leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or installing wooden flooring require a licence from the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. Where you fail to have the paperwork in place do not contact the landlord without checking with your lawyer in the first instance.
  • If you hold a share in a the freehold, you should ensure that you have the original share certificate. Obtaining a re-issued share certificate is often a time consuming process and frustrates many a Henfield conveyancing deal. Where a new share certificate is needed, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be advisable verify this by asking your solicitors. A purchaser's lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the remaining number of years is less than 80 years. In the circumstances it is important at an early stage that you consider whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

    • Leasehold Conveyancing in Henfield - Sample of Queries Prior to Purchasing

      Best to be warned if window replacement or some other significant cost is anticipated to be shared between the tenants and could well materially impact the level of the maintenance costs or result in a one off invoice. In the main the outlay for major works tend not to be wrapped into the service charges, although there some managing agents in Henfield require tenants to pay into a sinking fund created for the specific purpose of establishing a fund for major repairs or maintenance. How much is the ground rent and service charge?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Henfield