Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Holywell. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Holywell - 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 am hoping to exchange soon on a basement flat in Holywell. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they report fully within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

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

• You should be sent a copy of the lease

I have just started marketing my garden flat in Holywell.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just received a yearly maintenance charge demand – Do I pay up?

The sensible thing to do is 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 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.

Back In 2009, I bought a leasehold flat in Holywell. Conveyancing and Birmingham Midshires mortgage are in place. 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 1991. The conveyancing solicitor in Holywell who previously acted has long since retired.Any advice?

First contact HMLR to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is in fact the new freeholder. It is not necessary to instruct a Holywell conveyancing practitioner 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 landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Holywell conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Holywell conveyancing practice) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you talk with several firms including non Holywell conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be of use:

• If they are not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

Holywell Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries Prior to Purchasing

The majority of Holywell leasehold flats will be liable to pay a service charge for maintenance of the building invoiced on behalf of the landlord. Should you purchase the flat you will have to pay this liability, usually quarterly throughout the year. This may be anything from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large common grounds. In all probability there will be a ground rent for you to pay annual, this is usually not a large figure, say about £25-£75 but you need to check it because sometimes it can be surprisingly expensive. Does the lease include onerous restrictions? Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge liability?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Holywell