I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Horwich. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the remaining lease term.

If the lease is registered - and almost all are in Horwich - 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.

Jane (my partner) and I may need to let out our Horwich 1st floor flat for a while due to a new job. We instructed a Horwich conveyancing firm in 2001 but they have closed and we did not have the foresight to seek any guidance as to whether the lease allows us to sublet. How do we find out?

A small minority of properties in Horwich do contain a provision to say that subletting is only allowed with permission. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse but, in such cases, they would need to review references. Experience dictates that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting consent.

I only have 62 years remaining on my lease in Horwich. I need to get lease extension but my freeholder is missing. What are my options?

On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to find the freeholder. For most situations a specialist should be useful to conduct investigations and prepare a report which can be used as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer both on devolving into the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Horwich.

I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a couple of apartments in Horwich both have in the region of forty five years remaining on the leases. Do I need to be concerned?

A lease is a right to use the property for a period of time. As a lease shortens the saleability of the lease decreases and it becomes more expensive to acquire a lease extension. For this reason it is advisable to extend the lease term. Sometimes it is difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease because mortgage lenders less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease extension can be a protracted process. We recommend you seek professional help from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this field

Completion in due on the sale of our £425000 garden flat in Horwich on Tuesday in a week. The freeholder has quoted £324 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and previous years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge such fees for a flat conveyance in Horwich?

Horwich conveyancing on leasehold apartments more often than not necessitates the purchaser’s conveyancer submitting enquiries for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to address such questions the majority will be content to assist. They may charge a reasonable administration fee for responding to enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average fee for the paperwork that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some situations it is above £800. The management information fee levied by the landlord must be accompanied by a synopsis of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration charges, without which the invoice is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that you have little option but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to complete the sale of your home.

Horwich Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries Prior to Purchasing

Can you tell me if there are any major works in the planning that could add a premium to the service fees? In the main the outlay for major works are not included within maintenance charges, albeit that there some managing agents in Horwich ask leasehold owners to pay into a reserve fund created for the specific intention of building a fund for larger repairs or maintenance. Most Horwich leasehold apartments will incur a service bill for the upkeep of the building set by the freeholder. Where you purchase the flat you will have to meet this liability, normally in instalments accross the year. This could vary from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large communal areas. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge for you to pay annual, normally this is not a large amount, say about £50-£100 but you need to enquire as on occasion it could be many hundreds of pounds.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Horwich