Leasehold Conveyancing in Hitchin - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

Get a Quote

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

Hitchin leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

Looking forward to complete next month on a studio apartment in Hitchin. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they report fully on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, landlord
  • Setting out your rights in respect of common areas in the block.For instance, does the lease contain a right of way over an accessway or staircase?
  • You should be told what constitutes a Nuisance in the lease
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this will change in the future
  • 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.
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property and do you know what it means in practice?
  • The landlord’s obligations to repair and maintain the building. It is important that you know who is responsible for the repair and maintenance of every part of the building For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Hitchin please enquire of your solicitor in ahead of your conveyancing in Hitchin

    • I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently discovered that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Hitchin. Conveyancing lawyers have are soon to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

    Most houses in Hitchin are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Hitchin so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Hitchin conveyancing practitioner and check that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example obtaining the freeholder’sconsent to conduct alterations. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the property is located on an estate. Your solicitor will advise you fully on all the issues.

    My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Hitchin. Conveyancing and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1997. The conveyancing solicitor in Hitchin who previously acted has now retired.Do I pay?

    First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that this person is in fact the new freeholder. It is not necessary to instruct a Hitchin conveyancing practitioner to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

    I am looking at a couple of flats in Hitchin both have in the region of forty five years remaining on the leases. should I be concerned?

    There are plenty of short leases in Hitchin. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the premises for a prescribed time frame. As a lease shortens the value of the lease deteriorate and it becomes more costly to acquire a lease extension. This is why it is generally wise to increase the term of the lease. Sometimes it is difficult to sell a property with a short lease as mortgage companies may be reluctant to lend money on properties of this type. Lease extension can be a protracted process. We advise that you get professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this arena

    Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the sale of our £325000 garden flat in Hitchin next Monday . The freeholder has quoted £372 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Hitchin?

    Hitchin conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes usually necessitates the buyer’s lawyer submitting questions for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to respond to these enquiries most will be content to assist. They may levy a reasonable administration fee for responding to 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 cases it is above £800. The administration charge levied by the landlord must be accompanied by a summary of rights and obligations in respect of administration fees, otherwise the charge is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that you have little choice but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to exchange contracts with the buyer.

    I inherited a studio flat in Hitchin, conveyancing was carried out in 2003. Can you work out an approximate cost of a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Hitchin with a long lease are worth £220,000. The ground rent is £50 yearly. The lease expires on 21st October 2085

    With 60 years left to run we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £22,800 and £26,400 plus legals.

    The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed investigations. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other concerns that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before getting professional advice.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Hitchin